Tribe granted authority over water standards
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is now able to administer its own water quality certifications, becoming the 49th tribe in the nation to gain authority from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to administer the Water Quality Standards Program.
Federal water quality standards, which are embedded in the Clean Water Act, aim to restore and protect integrity of water resources. The tribe will now be responsible for setting its own expectations for the reservation’s water quality. The standards will be the foundation of pollution control efforts and watershed management, guiding monitoring and assessment and the legal basis for permitting and pollution controls such as discharge permits.
The EPA would still have to approve whatever standards the tribe comes up with, however.
“EPA’s approval reflects the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ effort to build expertise and capacity to protect and restore water quality,” said EPA Regional Administrator Heather McTeer Toney.
