The New Face of the Clean Water Act: A Critical Review of the Epa's Proposed Tmdl Rules
Resources for the Future Working Paper No. 00-12
37 Pages Posted: 22 Mar 2000
Date Written: March 2000
Abstract
The paper analyzes the EPA's proposed 'total maximum daily load' (TMDL) rules for water quality regulation. The benefits of movement to a system that drives pollutant reductions from ambient water conditions are described. The paper argues that while TMDLs are a highly desirable form of regulation, progress will be tempered by the serious scientific and technical challenges the approach presents. Also, because TMDLs target many polluters who were not previously regulated, the proposed regulations will alter the politics, economics, and law of water quality regulation. Several state TMDL programs are analyzed to illustrate these benefits and challenges. The paper gives particular attention to the role of water quality trading among point and nonpoint sources under a TMDL program.
JEL Classification: Q25,K32,Q28
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation