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EPA Approves Latest Kansas Water Quality Standards

Release Date: 05/30/2007
Contact Information: Martin Kessler, (913) 551-7236, kessler.martin@epa.gov

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Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Kansas City, Kan., May 30, 2007) – EPA has approved all of the provisions of the new and revised Kansas water quality standards submitted to EPA by the state. The approved provisions are now effective for implementation under the Clean Water Act.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) submitted new and revised Kansas surface water quality standards to EPA for review and approval last year, as required by the Clean Water Act.

Under the Act, states must review their water quality standards every three years or sooner and submit new or revised standards to EPA.

EPA recognizes KDHE for its work in preparing the water quality standards revisions.

With this action, EPA is approving the following provisions of the new or revised water quality standards:

• 227 bodies of water newly designated for swimming that must be protected for that use
• 314 bodies of water newly designated for fishing and wading that must be protected for those uses
• 90 bodies of water newly designated for uses such as drinking water supply, irrigation, and livestock watering that must be protected for such uses
• The removal of 62 bodies of water from those classified as “waters of the state” or “waters of the United States” because they do not meet certain factors, such as the Kansas requirement for a minimum flow in a stream

* Our May 30 decision letter provides a more detailed description of EPA’s review and the basis for this action.