WASHINGTON, JULY 12, 2016 -- In a notice yesterday, EPA said has determined not to designate stormwater discharges from forest roads for regulation under Section 402(p)(6) of the Clean Water Act (CWA) at this time.
The notice, posted on regulations.gov, states: "EPA's decision is based on several interrelated factors. First, state, federal, regional, tribal government, and private sector programs already exist nationwide to address water quality problems caused by discharges from forest roads. Many of these programs have been improved and updated in recent years. Program implementation rates are generally high and have been shown to be effective in protecting water quality when properly implemented. These programs employ a variety of approaches, based in part on variations in regional topography and climate. While EPA recognizes that existing programs vary in their degree of rigor, the Agency has concluded that efforts to help strengthen existing programs would be more effective in further addressing forest road discharges than superimposing an additional federal regulatory layer over them."
EPA's decision to excercise the “broad discretion the CWA gives the EPA in the realm of stormwater runoff,” in deciding not to regulate stormwater discharges from forest roads was made because "federal forest roads regulation presents a number of challenges," according to the document.
More information can be round at regulations.gov.
