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EPA Approves Latest Iowa Water Quality Standards

Release Date: 02/11/2008
Contact Information: Kris Lancaster, (913) 551-7557, lancaster.kris@epa.gov

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Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Kansas City, Kan., Feb. 11, 2008) - EPA has approved new and revised Iowa water quality standards, designating more than 14,000 additional miles of Iowa waters for recreational and aquatic life uses. The approved provisions are now effective for implementation under the Clean Water Act.

EPA Region 7 Administrator John B. Askew said, "EPA appreciates Iowa's commitment to protecting its waters by establishing water quality standards that significantly increase the environmental protections afforded waters in the state."

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources submitted new and revised Iowa surface water quality standards to EPA for review and approval in 2006 and late last year, as required by the Clean Water Act. These standards include an update of the state’s water quality criteria to be consistent with the latest science.

These newly-adopted standards will protect waters for their appropriate aquatic life and recreational uses. The standards are based on the presumption that waters should be protected for aquatic life and recreational uses, unless stream assessments show that another level of protection is warranted.

EPA’s Feb. 11, 2008, decision letter (PDF) (25 pp, 1.3MB) provides a more detailed description of EPA’s review and the basis for this action.