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WaterNews for October 15, 1998WaterNews is a weekly on-line publication that announces publications, policies, and activities of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Water. Inside this week's WaterNews: 1) President Announces Steps to Preserve WetlandsIn an address to the League of Conservation Voters on October 7, President Clinton announced new steps to preserve America's threatened wetlands. These rules, proposed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will require thorough environmental review of proposals, with full public participation, to fill or build in floodplains or other sensitive wetlands. These changes will conserve water quality and wildlife habitat, and help protect communities against flooding. To view a copy of the Federal Register notice, scroll down to "Engineer Corps" at
http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/a981014c.html. 2) Coral Reef Task Force to Meet in FloridaSecretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt and Dr. D. James Baker, Under Secretary of Commerce and Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, announced the first-ever meeting of the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force to be held Oct. 19-20, 1998 at Biscayne National Park in Florida as part of the effort to protect coral reefs in American waters and around the world. The task force was created by an executive order signed June 11 by President Clinton as part of the Year of the Ocean observance. The order directs all federal agencies to protect coral reef ecosystems to the extent feasible and directs agencies to come up with coordinated, science-based plans to restore damaged reefs, both in the United States and around the globe. Task force members will lay a foundation to carry out the goals of the directive and discuss how to implement the order with representatives of state, territorial and commonwealth governments, along with researchers, commercial interests, and non-governmental organizations. For more information on coral reefs, visit http://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/coral/. 3) EPA Offers Technical Assistance to Water Facilities for Year 2000 (Y2K)During October 19-23, EPA will participate in the Y2K Action Week to address the year 2000 computer problem. This week is designed to reach out to the millions of small businesses and small utilities that may not have fully addressed the Y2K problem. Currently, EPA provides technical assistance as well as other kinds of help to drinking water and wastewater treatment plants, which are owned and operated by local government and private utility companies. Many of the Nation's drinking water and wastewater treatment plants operate with some level of computerization and use equipment with embedded chips, such as flow meters, pump motor controllers, and chlorinators. If not corrected, Y2K problems in treatment systems could cause disruption of operations, which could even lead to permit violations. For additional information visit EPA's website at http://www.epa.gov/year2000/ow.htm. Please forward this message to your friends and colleagues who share an interest in water-related issues and would like to hear from EPA's Office of Water. To subscribe to the WaterNews listserve:
A welcome message will appear in your email box once you are officially subscribed. WaterNews will be sent to you at the end of each week. If you encounter difficulties subscribing to this list server or if you would like to be taken off the WaterNews list server at any time, please send your E-mail address to Gloria Posey at Posey.Gloria@epa.gov.
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