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Freshwater Systems: Govt Docs

About any ecological system related to freshwater: lakes, rivers, streams, ponds, groundwater, etc.

Governments & Water

Governments are interested in the management of natural resources within their borders and around the world. These resources are used for a variety of purposes by citizens. Natural resources are bought and sold to other regions of the world. Therefore, governments regulate and manage these resources and collect, store, and distribute statistics and information on natural resources, including water and freshwater.

In the past, governments did not always monitor all of their natural resources. This led to some problems, like shortages, species extinctions, and pollution.

Information sources are listed below in order from local to regional to worldwide.

Local & Regional Water Links from Govts & Organizations

Indiana Water

Water Links from US Govt & National Orgs

Water Links from non-US & NGO

Governments and non-governmental organizations (NGO) are interested in the management of natural resources within their borders  and/or around the world. Therefore, they collect. store, and distribute statistics and information on water and freshwater.

A non-governmental organization (NGO) is a  group of individuals or organizations which provides services or advocates public policy unaffiliated with a government.  The World Bank defines NGOs as "private organizations that pursue activities to relieve suffering, promote the interests of the poor, protect the environment, provide basic social services, or undertake community development" (Operational Directive 14.70). The United Nations is a well-known example.

Reports & Documents (Serial Set)

[Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act of 2011] - July 8, 2011, 20 pp.
Recommends passage with an amendment of H.R. 2018, the Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act of 2011, to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, also known as the Clean Water Act (CWA), to enhance State governments regulatory authority to establish water quality standards and determine water treatment and development needs.
Includes provisions to:
a.Restrict EPA from issuing a new water quality standard when a State standard has been previously approved by EPA, unless the State concurs with EPA that the revised or new standard is necessary to meet CWA requirements.
b.Prohibit EPA from withdrawing approval of or limiting Federal aid to State water quality permitting programs under CWA on the basis that EPA disagrees with the State regarding a previously adopted and EPA approved standard.
c.Limit EPA ability to veto Army Corps of Engineers permitting decisions involving wetlands.
d.Provide greater flexibility for States to assume and administer parts of the CWA permitting program.
e.Shorten Federal agencies deadlines to review and submit comments on proposed permits to dredge and fill wetlands.
Includes dissenting views (p. 17-20).
 
Clean Water Restoration Act - Dec. 10, 2010, 41 pp.
Recommends passage, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute, of S. 787, the Clean Water Restoration Act, to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, also known as the Clean Water Act (CWA), to establish Federal jurisdiction over certain bodies of water, including over intermittent and geographically isolated wetlands.
Includes minority views (p. 30-33).
S. 787 is related to 110th Congress S. 1870.
Clean Estuaries Act of 2010 - Sept. 16, 2010, 22 pp.
Recommends passage with an amendment of H.R. 4715, the Clean Estuaries Act of 2010, to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, also known as the Clean Water Act, to reauthorize the EPA national estuary program through FY2016.
H.R. 4715 is companion to S. 3540.
Contaminated Sediment Remediation Reauthorization Act - Apr. 20, 2010, 7 pp.
Recommends passage of S. 933, the Contaminated Sediment Remediation Reauthorization Act, to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, also known as the Clean Water Act, and the Great Lakes Legacy Act of 2002 to extend through FY2014 and increase funding for program under the Great Lakes Legacy Act authorizing EPA grants to State and local governments, Indian tribes, and regional agencies for remediation, prevention, and long-term monitoring of toxic contamination of sediments in the Great Lakes.
Includes minority views (p. 5).
S. 933 is similar to H.R. 1262.
Sewage Overflow Community Right-To-Know Act - Apr. 20, 2010, 13 pp.
Recommends passage of S. 937, the Sewage Overflow Community Right-to-Know Act, to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, also known as the Clean Water Act, to require EPA to develop regulations for publicly-owned sewage treatment plants to notify Federal and State agencies and the public of sewer overflows.
Includes minority views (p. 8).
S. 937 is companion to H.R. 753, and related to H.R. 1262.
Clean Coastal Environment and Public Health Act of 2009 - Apr. 20, 2010, 16 pp.
Recommends passage, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute, of S. 878, the Clean Coastal Environment and Public Health Act of 2009, to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, also known as the Clean Water Act, and the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of 2000 to authorize through FY2013 EPA program to test and monitor beach and coastal waters to ensure public health and safety, and to make certain programmatic changes to State and local coastal recreation water quality monitoring and notification programs.
Includes minority views (p. 7-8).
S. 878 is companion to H.R. 2093.

Government Hearings

Clean Water Act After 37 Years: Recommitting to the Protection of the Nation's Waters - Oct. 15, 2009, 233 pp.
Hearing to examine EPA enforcement of water pollution abatement and control programs under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, also known as the Clean Water Act (CWA) (Committee memo and witness list, p. v-xii).
Also reviews State enforcement of water pollution programs under CWA.
 
Opportunities and Challenges in the Creation of a Clean Water Trust Fund - July 15, 2009, 204 pp.
Hearing to examine options for Federal financing of drinking water and wastewater infrastructure improvement projects (Subcom memo and witness list, p. vii-xvi).
Also considers H.R. 3202, the Water Protection and Reinvestment Act of 2009, to establish a clean water trust fund to provide long-term Federal contribution to State and local wastewater infrastructure improvement projects.
 
Emerging Contaminants in U.S. Waters - Sept. 18, 2008, 118 pp.
Hearing to examine problem of pharmaceuticals and other contaminants of emerging concern in surface water and effects on public health and aquatic ecosystems, and to review approaches to address surface water pollutants problem under the Clean Water Act (Subcom memo and witness list, p. vi-xii).
Supplementary material (p. 30-106) includes submitted statements, witnesses' written statements, a witness's written reply to a Subcom question, and a report.
 
Discharges Incidental to the Normal Operation of a Commercial Vessel - June 12, 2008, 215 pp.
Hearing to examine commercial vessel incidental discharges and potential regulation under the Clean Water Act (Subcom memo, p. vii-xiii).
 
Clean Water Restoration Act of 2007 - Apr. 16, 2008, 507 pp.
Hearing to consider H.R. 2421, the Clean Water Restoration Act of 2007, to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972, also known as the Clean Water Act (CWA), to remove "navigable" from the definition of U.S. waters (Committee memo, p. vi-xx).
H.R. 2421 responds to concerns about limitations to Federal jurisdictional authority over navigable waters in light of Supreme Court 2001 decision in Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (SWANCC) and 2006 decision in Rapanos v. U.S. Supplementary material (p. 140-485) includes submitted statements, and witnesses' written statements and written replies to Committee questions.

Legislative Histories

To see the complete legislative history, search in Westlaw or LexisNexis and search using the public law (P.L.) number.

Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act - Jan. 4, 2011, 2 pp.
Call Number: P.L. 111-380
"To amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to reduce lead in drinking water." Amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to reduce the allowable lead content of pipes and plumbing fixtures.

Stormwater Pollution Service Charges - Jan. 4, 2011, 2 pp.
Call Number: P.L. 111-378
"To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to clarify Federal responsibility for stormwater pollution."
Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to clarify that Federal departments and agencies are responsible for paying reasonable Federal, state, or local fees for stormwater management for water that emanates from Federal property.

Great Lakes Legacy Reauthorization Act of 2008 - Oct. 8, 2008, 4 pp.
Call Number: P.L. 110-365
"To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to provide for the remediation of sediment contamination in areas of concern, and for other purposes."
Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and the Great Lakes Legacy Act of 2002 to extend and revise EPA grants to State and local governments, Indian tribes, and regional agencies for remediation, prevention, and long-term monitoring of toxic contamination of sediments in the Great Lakes.

Clean Boating Act of 2008 - July 29, 2008, 4 pp.
Call Number: P.L. 110-288
"To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to address certain discharges incidental to the normal operation of a recreational vessel."
Directs EPA to establish and the Coast Guard to enforce standards to regulate incidental discharges from recreational boats.

Long Island Sound Environmental Health Monitoring and Improvement Program Extension - Dec. 22, 2005, 1 pp.
Call Number: P.L. 109-137
"To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to extend the authorization of appropriations for Long Island Sound."
Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to extend through FY2010 authorization of appropriations for the EPA Long Island Sound program, which monitors the environmental health of the Long Island Sound and provides grants to State, interstate, and regional water pollution control agencies and other public and nonprofit agencies for efforts to improve the environmental quality of the Sound.

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