The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Friday finalized a regulation, known as the California Toxics Rule, to reinstate water quality criteria for toxic pollutants in the state''s rivers, streams, lakes, enclosed bays and estuaries.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Friday finalized a regulation, known as the California Toxics Rule, to reinstate water quality criteria for toxic pollutants in the state''s rivers, streams, lakes, enclosed bays and estuaries.
Specific, numerical criteria are the basis for limits on toxic pollutants specified in hundreds of discharge permits issued by California''s regional water quality control boards.
With these specific criteria in place, the regional boards can more easily issue permits with strict limits on toxic pollutants discharged by industries and municipalities, as well as polluted runoff.
The reinstated criteria will enable the regional boards to process a backlog of permit renewals and continue to issue new permits.
"This rule is good news for California''s waterways," said Felicia Marcus, EPA''s regional administrator for the Pacific Southwest. "Like most other states, many of California''s inland waterways are polluted by toxic substances and controlling them is crucial to protecting public health and the aquatic envi