Join a Thunderclap for Clean Water 

EPA is planning to use a new social media application called Thunderclap to provide a way for people to show their support for clean water and the agency's proposal to protect it. Here's how it works: you agree to let Thunderclap post a one-time message on your social networks (Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr) on Monday, September 29 at 2:00 pm EDT.  The message will be posted on everyone's walls and feeds at the same time.
 

Here's the message: "Clean water is important to me. I want EPA to protect it for my health, my family, and my community. www.epa.gov/USwaters"

Sign up to join the Thunderclap for Clean Water: http://thndr.it/1rUOiaB

Read about the Thunderclap. 

EPA Publishes Final 2012 and Preliminary 2014 Effluent Guidelines Program Plans

Under Clean Water Act section 304(m), EPA develops biennial plans for issuing new regulations or revising existing regulations to control industrial wastewater discharges. While EPA's final 2012 plan and preliminary 2014 plan do not propose any new effluent guidelines for industry, EPA is announcing initiation of detailed studies of the petroleum refining industry and centralized waste treatment facilities, and continuation of its preliminary review of the metal finishing industry. EPA will accept public comments on the preliminary 2014 plan through November 17, 2014. Learn more.

Ionine Creek in Grady County runs through an area of high cattle, wheat, and hog production. An assessment of the creek's fish community in 2004 revealed a poor biological condition, prompting Oklahoma to add the creek to the state's Clean Water Act section 303(d) list of impaired waters for biological impairment. Implementation of best management practices to reduce runoff from grazing land and cropland and to improve wildlife habitat decreased sediment and nutrient contributions to the creek and provided better in-stream habitat. As a result, Oklahoma removed Ionine Creek from Oklahoma's list for fishes bioassessment. Ionine Creek now fully attains its fish and wildlife propagation designated use. The complete success story can be found here. 

EPA Issues Small Vessel General Permit

EPA published the small Vessel General Permit on September 10. The permit provides NPDES permit coverage for discharges from non-military, non-recreational vessels less than 79 feet operating in a capacity as a means of transportation. Unless specifically excluded in the sVGP, all discharges incidental to the normal operation of these vessels are eligible for coverage under this permit beginning December 19, 2014, when the NPDES permit requirement for these discharges goes into effect. The permit is designed to be an easily implementable permit with common-sense best management practices that will reduce pollution. Larger vessels have been eligible for coverage under the vessel general permit since 2008. For a more detailed description of the small vessel general permit, go to http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/npdes/vessels/Small-Vessel-General-Permit.cfm.