96-20954. Notice of Availability; Biological Criteria: Technical Guidance for Streams and Small Rivers

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 160 (Friday, August 16, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 42610]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-20954]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL 5550-4]


Notice of Availability; Biological Criteria: Technical Guidance 
for Streams and Small Rivers

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: This action announces the availability of the draft document 
``Biological Criteria: Technical Guidance for Streams and Small 
Rivers'' and the Agency's request for public comment. This document 
should be used in conjunction with the ``Rapid Bioassessment Protocols 
for Use in Streams and Rivers: Benthic Macroinvertebrates and Fish,'' 
1989, EPA/440/4-89-001. The purpose of this document is to help States 
develop and use biocriteria for stream and small river surveys. The 
existing approach to water resource quality assessment will be expanded 
and enhanced by adding biological integrity measurements and criteria 
to the physical and chemical parameters now used for ambient 
assessments. The objective of biocriteria and the Clean Water Act is to 
restore and maintain the physical chemical and biological integrity of 
the Nation's waters. In that regard, State and Tribal assessments of 
stream and small river water quality will be expanded and enhanced so 
that better management decisions can be made. Use of the technical 
guidance will also provide consistency to regional databases and 
promote coordination among the States and Tribes.

DATES: All comments must be postmarked or delivered by hand by October 
15, 1996. No facsimiles (faxes) will be accepted.

ADDRESSES: Written comments can be sent to Biological Criteria Clerk, 
Water Docket MC-4101; Environmental Protection Agency; 401 M Street 
S.W.; Washington DC. 20460. Comments should be accompanied by any 
references cited. It is requested that an original and 3 copies of the 
written comments and enclosures be submitted. A copy of the comments 
and supporting documents are available for review at EPA's Water Docket 
at the above address. For access to the Docket materials, call (202) 
260-3027 between 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. for an appointment.
    For information concerning electronic availability, see 
Supplementary Information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George R. Gibson, Jr., Health and 
Ecological Criteria Division, Office of Science and Technology (Mail 
Code 4304), Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street S.W., 
Washington D.C. 20460 or call [phone] or [phone].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: To obtain a copy of the document, contact: 
National Center for Environmental Publications and Information (NCEPI): 
Copies of this document (Biological Criteria: Technical Guidance for 
Streams and Small Rivers, EPA 822-B-94-001) and other related EPA 
publications such as the Rapid Bioassessment Protocols for Use in 
Streams and Rivers (EPA/440/4-89-001) are available: [phone], 
FAX [phone].
    EPA Regional Office Libraries: EPA has 10 Regional Offices around 
the country, each with a publicly accessible library. Copies of these 
documents can be viewed and copied at these EPA Regional libraries.
    Internet: You may view the entire Federal Register Notice that 
describes this notice of availability at http://www.epa.gov/EPA-WATER. 
Comments may also be submitted electronically through the Internet to: 
[email protected] Comments in electronic format should also be 
identified by this Federal Register publication date and title. All 
electronic comments must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the use 
of special characters and any form of encryption.

Background Information

    In 1989, the Agency began expanding its water quality assessment 
procedures to include biological water quality criteria in addition to 
physical and chemical parameters. This information supplements the 
existing chemical and physical based measurements and water management 
programs. This guidance document establishes the first combined surface 
water survey protocol and criteria development guidance for small 
streams and rivers. This guidance is a prototype upon which others will 
be predicated, but with obvious modifications to accommodate the 
characteristics of each particular surface water type. Subsequent 
guidance documents addressing both survey techniques and criteria 
development will be written for lakes and reservoirs, estuarine and 
coastal marine waters, rivers, wetlands, and possibly coral reefs in 
approximately this order.
Robert Perciasepe,
Assistant Administrator for Water.
[FR Doc. 96-20954 Filed 8-15-96; 8:45 am]
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