96-14769. A Framework for Watershed-Based Trading

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 113 (Tuesday, June 11, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 29563]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-14769]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5518-5]


A Framework for Watershed-Based Trading

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: EPA's Assistant Administrator for Water hereby gives notice of 
the availability of a Draft Framework for Watershed-Based Trading (EPA 
800-R-96-001). This Framework is a companion to the Policy Statement 
for Effluent Trading which was issued in January 1996. The Policy 
Statement and Framework are a result of President Clinton's 
``Reinventing Environmental Regulation'' (March, 1995), which listed 
effluent trading in watersheds as one of the twenty-five high priority 
action items. The Framework has been developed to encourage trading and 
assist in evaluating and designing trading programs. The framework 
provides a background on trading and its benefits, a series of 
conditions that are necessary for trading, including those that assure 
protection of water quality comparable to the protection that would be 
provided without trading. The framework also includes a template of 
regulatory, economic, data, technical, scientific, institutional, 
administrative, accountability and enforcement issues that facilitate 
identification and evaluation of trading opportunities. Finally, the 
framework has worksheets/checklists, for five types of trading 
identified by EPA, to evaluate whether potential trades meet threshold 
conditions. The audience for the framework includes local and national 
community groups, members of the regulated and nonregulated community 
and governmental organizations. EPA is asking for comments on the 
framework.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before September 9, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Comment Clerk, Water Docket 
MC-4101: Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street SW., Washington, 
DC 20460. Commenters are requested to submit an original and 3 copies 
of their written comments. Commenters who want receipt of their 
comments acknowledged should include a self-addressed, stamped 
envelope. EPA will also accept comments electronically. Comments should 
be addressed to the following Internet address: [e-mail]. Electronic comments must submitted on an ASCII 
file avoiding the use of special characters and any form of encryption. 
EPA is experimenting with electronic commenting, therefore commenters 
may want to submit both electronic comments and duplicate paper 
comments.

FOR COPIES OF THE FRAMEWORK CONTACT: Fax NCEPI at [phone]; you 
must specify publication number and title. Copies are also available on 
disk in WP 6.1 format. The Framework may also be accessed on the EPA 
Office of Water Home Page on the Internet at the following address: 
http://www.epa.gov/ow/watershed.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Authority: Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1251 et. seq.

    Dated: June 3, 1996.
Robert Perciasepe,
Assistant Administrator for Water.
[FR Doc. 96-14769 Filed 6-10-96; 8:45 am]
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