| EPA, Forest Service team up to address water quality |
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U.S. EPA and the Forest Service agreed last week to coordinate their
efforts to improve water quality and sustain grasslands on public
lands.
While water quality in most Forest Service watersheds is considered "satisfactory," some fail to meet state standards, EPA said. Most of that pollution is caused by higher temperatures, excessive sedimentation and changes to habitats. About 60 million Americans get drinking water from sources located on public lands, the Forest Service said. The agreement requires the agencies to meet annually to discuss water quality management and to help states establish pollution-control plans. EPA addresses watershed pollution through its Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) program, which requires states to gauge the health of water bodies, determine maximum pollution loads for each and then write discharge permits. The Forest Service says it has helped states and EPA create more than 300 TMDLs in more than 30 national forests. The agreement aims to help the service meet water quality standards faster by identifying ways to streamline the development of TMDLs or alternative pollution-control programs. It also calls on the agencies to share watershed data and make them public. Click here to download a copy of the MOA.
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