On December 12, 2024, the EPA released three draft chapters of the WQS Handbook on Designated Uses, Antidegradation, and WQS Variances, for a 90-day public comment period. The EPA has updated Chapter 2 on Designated Uses, Chapter 4 on Antidegradation, and developed a new chapter on WQS Variances to include the EPA’s most recent WQS programmatic policy and guidance to implement the regulation at 40 CFR Part 131.
The EPA is holding three informational webinars during the public comment period to provide an overview of the chapters and an opportunity for participants to ask clarifying questions after having read the chapters. Each webinar will cover the same material.
Register:
- General Public Webinar: February 4, 2025, 12pm ET to 2pm ET
- States and U.S. Territories Only Webinar: February 4, 2025, 2:30pm ET to 4:30pm ET
- Tribes Only Webinar: February 6, 2025, 12pm ET to 2pm ET
Registration will close at 5pm ET on Friday, January 31st.
The webinars will not be an opportunity to provide comments. All comments must be submitted through the Docket. Visit the EPA’s WQS Handbook webpage to review the three draft chapters and for information on how to provide comments.
