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U.S. EPA, NOAA PROPOSE CONDITIONAL APPROVAL OF HAWAII PROGRAM ON POLLUTED RUNOFF

Release Date: 5/15/1998
Contact Information: Dave Schmidt, U.S. EPA, (415) 744-1578

     (San Francisco)--The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) today released a draft document that would conditionally approve Hawaii's program to reduce and prevent polluted runoff to the waters of Hawaii.  The State's program, known as the Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program, was submitted to U.S. EPA and NOAA to comply with the federal Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments of 1990 (CZARA).  Hawaii's program was jointly developed by the Office of Planning in the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism and the Hawaii Department of Health, with extensive public participation.  The State's submittal describes existing statewide polluted runoff control programs and identifies specific recommendations to improve these programs.  The State is now developing an Implementation Plan that will address these recommendations and the conditions of the NOAA/EPA action.
                                                   
     "Polluted runoff is the leading cause of  water quality problems across the country and in Hawaii," said Felicia Marcus, U.S. EPA's Regional Administrator.  "We support the State's  program to reduce polluted runoff, and we will work with the State to further develop this plan so that it results in  progress toward clean waters that are consistently safe for swimming and boating; that protects coral reefs, fish, and wildlife; and meets the requirements of CZARA."

     Polluted runoff, also known as nonpoint source pollution, affects rivers, lakes, streams, and coastal waters.  CZARA requires coastal states to establish nonpoint source programs to protect and restore coastal waters by addressing pollution from agriculture; forestry; urban runoff; marinas; and channelization of streams and rivers.  For example, consistent use of best management practices would help prevent and reduce pollution from conversion of sugar and pineapple fields to new and diversified crops.  Practices that reduce pesticide use and keep soil on the land will protect Hawaii's streams, coastal areas, and sources of the drinking water used by residents and visitors, as well as save landowners and agencies money.

     The public is invited to submit written comments on NOAA and U.S. EPA's Findings and Conditions during the 30-day public comment period.  The document will be published in the Federal Register on May 15, 1998.  Written comments may be submitted by mail until June 15, 1998, to Joseph Uravitch of NOAA at:

                       Joseph A. Uravitch
               Coastal Programs Division (N/ORM3)
      Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, NOS
                              NOAA
                     1305 East-West Highway
                    Silver Spring, MD 20910

     Copies of the Proposed Findings and Conditions Document and Environmental
Assessment may be obtained upon request from: Vicki Tsuhako, U.S. EPA, Pacific Island Contact Office, 300 Ala Moana Blvd., #5152, Honolulu, HI  96850, tel. (808) 541-2710; or Joseph P. Flanagan, Coastal Programs Division (N/ORM3), Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, NOS, NOAA, 1305 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland  20910, tel. (301) 713-3121 x 201.

     The federal register notice and the Findings document are also posted on U.S. EPA Region 9's Internet Web page, at: https://www.epa.gov/region09/water/nonpoint/hi

     
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