Posted January 16, 2014
A recent report from the U.S. Government Accountability
Office (GAO) studied the effectiveness of pollution targets, also known as
total maximum daily loads (TMDLs), recommending that the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and Congress make improvements. The GAO report is available here.
The GAO was asked by Congress to examine the TMDL
program including EPA’s and states’ responsibilities and the “the extent to
which TMDLs exhibit factors that facilitate effective implementation.”
The GAO recommends that EPA issue new regulations for
TMDL development to reduce nonpoint source pollution including agricultural and
stormwater runoff, stating that voluntary approaches did not significantly
improve water quality. The report also
urges Congress to revise the Clean Water Act’s approach to nonpoint source
pollution.
The EPA and states are responsible for developing and
implementing TMDLs. EPA oversees states’
TMDL efforts by “establishing in regulations minimum requirements TMDLs need
for approval, providing funding and furnishing technical assistance.” States develop TMDLs and generally take the
lead in implementing them.
For more information on the Clean Water Act, please
visit the National Agricultural Law Center’s website here.
