News & Events

EPA Releases New Science-Based Recommendations to Help More States, Tribes, and Territories Reduce Exposure to PFAS in Fish
On July 11, 2024, the EPA published updated recommendations for contaminants that Tribal, state, and territorial fish advisory programs should consider monitoring in locally caught fish to protect public health. The EPA’s latest recommendations consist of two lists of fish tissue contaminants, both of which include several per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS). Please see the press release and view the lists of contaminants to monitor on the EPA’s website.

EPA’s Acute 6PPD-q and 6PPD Aquatic Life Screening Values for Freshwater
On June 3, 2024, the EPA's Office of Water (OW) developed acute aquatic life screening values for two widely distributed rubber-tire associated compounds, 6PPD-Quinone (6PPD-q) and 6PPD. The screening values are based on the latest scientific knowledge about the short-term (acute) toxicity of 6PPD-q and 6PPD to aquatic organisms, including sensitive species like coho salmon, in freshwaters of the U.S. For more information, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/wqc/aquatic-life-criteria-and-methods-toxics#acute

EPA Announced Final Water Quality Standards Regulatory Revisions to Protect Tribal Reserved Rights
The EPA is pleased to announce that registration for the June 2024 Virtual Water Quality Standards Academy is now OPEN. Registration is free and open to the public. Registration will close on May 22nd, or when capacity is reached.

On April 26, 2024, the EPA Administrator signed a final rule that revises the Water Quality Standards (WQS) regulation at 40 CFR Part 131 to explicitly address how the EPA and states must consider Tribal reserved rights. It is defined in this rule as rights to Clean Water Act-protected aquatic and/or aquatic-dependent resources reserved to Tribes through treaties, statutes, or executive orders in establishing WQS, where Tribes assert these rights for consideration. This rule creates a regulatory framework that will be applied consistently to help ensure that future WQS reflect consideration of and provide protection for applicable Tribal reserved rights, such as the right to fish for subsistence and/or gather wild rice.

For more information, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/wqs-tech/revising-federal-water-quality-standards-regulation-protect-tribal-reserved-rights

Final Rule Fact Sheet: https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2024-05/tribal-reserved-rights-final-rule_fact-sheet_508.pdf