| definition |
-
The EPA's National Estuary Program was established by Congress in 1987
to improve the quality of estuaries of national importance. The Clean
Water Act Section 320 directs EPA to develop plans for attaining or
maintaining water quality in an estuary. This includes protection of
public water supplies and the protection and propagation of a
balanced, indigenous population of shellfish, fish, and wildlife, and
allows recreational activities, in and on water, requires that control
of point and nonpoint sources of pollution to supplement existing
controls of pollution. In several cases, more than one State is
participating in a National Estuary Program. Each program establishes
a Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan to meet the goals of
Section 320.
EPA's National Estuary Program is proud of its progress and has had
many successes. For these programs several funding mechanisms are
available and many differing management structure have been developed
by these programs.
Website: "http://www.epa.gov/nep/"
[Summary provided by the EPA.]
|
| altLabel |
- National Estuary Program, Oceans, Coasts, and Estuaries, Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds, Office of Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
|
