Decision Issued on Nebraska's Water Quality Requirements

(Kansas City, Kan., June 25, 2012) - E.P.A. has completed its review of the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality's new and revised water quality standards. The Clean Water Act (CWA) requires states to review water quality requirements every 3 years and submit new or revised requirements to E.P.A. for review and approval.

The approved requirements include new and revised surface water criteria to protect aquatic life and human health; new and revised public drinking water supply criteria; numeric nutrient criteria for lakes; and new use designations for 4 lakes.

"We value the state's commitment to protecting its waters by establishing water quality requirements and adopting numeric criteria that significantly increase environmental protection of Nebraska's lakes, rivers and streams," said Karl Brooks, regional administrator.

E.P.A. oversees the protection of water quality as required by the CWA. The Agency is working with the public, community leaders, local and state agencies to meet the growing needs and demands of our water resources.

EPA's June 22, 2012, decision letter provides a more detailed description of EPA's review and the basis for this action. The decision letter is accessible at www.epa.gov/region7/newsevents/legal.

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