Decision Issued on Nebraska’s Water Quality Standards

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7

901 N. Fifth St., Kansas City, KS 66101

Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Nine Tribal Nations

Decision Issued on Nebraska’s Water Quality Standards

Contact Information: Kris Lancaster, (913) 551-7557, lancaster.kris@epa.gov

Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Kansas City, Kan., June 25, 2012) - EPA has completed its review of the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality’s new and revised water quality standards. The Clean Water Act (CWA) requires states to review water quality standards every three years and submit new or revised standards to EPA for review and approval.

The approved standards include new and revised surface water criteria to protect aquatic life and human health; new and revised public drinking water supply criteria; numeric nutrient criteria for lakes; and new use designations for four lakes.

“We value the state’s commitment to protecting its waters by establishing water quality standards and adopting numeric criteria that significantly increase environmental protection of Nebraska’s lakes, rivers and streams,” said Karl Brooks, regional administrator.

EPA oversees the protection of water quality as required by the CWA. The Agency is working with the public, community leaders, local and state agencies to meet the growing needs and demands of our water resources.

EPA’s June 22, 2012, decision letter provides a more detailed description of EPA’s review and the basis for this action. The decision letter is available at www.epa.gov/region7/newsevents/legal.

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