EPA is announcing in the Federal Register the availability of draft updated ambient water quality criteria for the protection of human health for the purpose of obtaining public comments. EPA has updated its national recommended water quality criteria for human health for 94 chemical pollutants to reflect the latest scientific information and EPA policies, including updated fish consumption rates described in a new peer-reviewed report, Estimated Fish Consumption Rates for the U.S. Population and Selected Subpopulations (NHANES 2003-2010). EPA will accept written scientific views from the public on the draft updated human health criteria for 60 days upon publication. Once finalized, EPA water quality criteria serve as recommendations to states and tribes authorized to establish water quality standards under the Clean Water Act.
For more information: water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/standards/criteria/current/hhdraft.cfm