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EPA RETAINS FEDERAL BACKSTOP TO PROTECT PENNSYLVANIA STREAMS

Release Date: 3/17/2000
Contact Information: Patrick Boyle (215) 814-5533

Patrick Boyle, 215-814-5533

PHILADELPHIA -- U. S. EPA Regional Administrator Bradley Campbell today approved most of Pennsylvania’s revised regulations to protect streams, but withheld approval for a key provision that defines Aexceptional value waters@ entitled to the highest standards of protection.

In a letter to James Seif, Pennsylvania secretary of environmental protection, Campbell said that federal rules protecting exceptional value waters will remain in place until the Commonwealth clarifies its regulations so that they are as protective as federal regulations.

"Specifically, we are concerned that...the (state) regulations lack a clear statement that national and state parks with high quality waters are eligible for protection under (Pennsylvania’s) revised regulations to the same extent as...under the federal regulation," Campbell wrote.

The state is required under federal law to adopt these "anti-degradation" regulations, so called because they protect streams from being degraded. They set a minimum standard for water quality protection and allow residents to designate certain waters for enhanced protection.

In his letter today, Campbell described Tohickon Creek, a pristine stream in Bucks County, Pa. as an "important example" of his concern that Pennsylvania’s revised regulations may exclude from further protection, despite long efforts by residents, businesses, environmentalists and elected officials to upgrade its status, which EPA supports.

Campbell today walked Tohickon Creek with U. S. Rep. James Greenwood, local officials and environmentalists to underscore his concerns and to pledge continuing federal protection.