EPA May Shun Clean Water Program

The Bush administration has discussed reducing the government's role in a Clinton-era program spelling out state cleanup plans for thousands of lakes and rivers, an official said Saturday.

A federal regulation from mid-2000 requires states to develop detailed plans to reduce pollution in more than 20,000 lakes, rivers, streams and bays that do not meet minimum federal water quality standards.

Congress stopped the regulation from taking effect after questions were raised by many states and after farm and business interests expressed their opposition. The Bush administration has kept the regulation on hold while it considers changing them.

Christie Whitman, head of the Environmental Protection Agency, was briefed this month on a proposal to give states more control over the program, agency spokesman Joe Martyak said.

He said that briefing does not represent a final decision and there have been meetings to discuss other options, including increasing the federal role. The agency hopes to make a decision within a couple of months on what changes to make, Martyak said.

Last year, a National Academy of Sciences panel said the program had been put into place without enough evidence to assure the right bodies of water were being targeted.

The regulation has been supported by environmentalists, but opposed by a broad range of interests, including agriculture and timber groups, the utility industry and many municipalities who fear facing "onerous new restrictions on polluted runoff," according to The Washington Post, which reported the possible changes in its Saturday editions.

Critics have said the requirements would cost billions and take away from states the flexibility needed to deal with water pollution problems.

The Post says it got word of the July 2 briefing to Whitman from a foe of the strategy who fears it would weaken watershed protection.

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