EPA Releases 2012 Climate Strategy for the National Water Program
On April 2nd, EPA announced the release of its draft “National Water Program 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate Change” in the Federal Register for a 45-day public comment period through May 17, 2012. The 2012 Strategy, which builds upon EPA’s first climate change and water strategy released in 2008, describes how EPA’s water-related programs plan to address the impacts of climate change and provides long-term visions, goals and strategic actions for the management of sustainable water resources for future generations. Five key areas in the strategy focus on: infrastructure, watersheds and wetlands, coastal and ocean waters, water quality, and working with Tribes. It also describes geographically-based strategic issues and actions.
EPA has acknowledged the valuable contributions of the State-Tribal Climate Change Council (including state drinking water program representatives from NJ, WA, NH, MD, TX, and NC) to help develop this new draft strategy and ASDWA will again be working with this group and its source water committee to provide comments. Visit the EPA website HERE for more information, to read the draft strategy, and to submit comments directly. View the Federal Register notice HERE.
