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DOCUMENT BESUME
04259 - [B3554807]
National Water Quality Goals Cannot Be Attained without More
Attention to Pollution from Diffused or Nonpoint Sources.
CED-78-6; B-166506. December 20, 1977. 29 pp. + 8 appendices (18
pp.).
Report to the Congress; by Elmer B. Staats, Comptroller General.
Issue Area: Znvironmental Protection Programs: Costs/Benefits of
Achieving Envircnmental Protection Standards (2203).
Contact: Community and Economic Development Div.
Budget Function: Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy:
Pollution Control and Abatement (304).
Organization Concerned- Environmental Pr'otection Agency.
Congressional Relevance: House Committee on Public Works and
Transportation; Senate Committee on Environment and Public
V'orks; Congress.
Authoirity: Federal Water Pollation Control Act Amendments of
1972 (P.L. 92-500; 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq. (Supp. V)).
Nonpoint sources of pollution involve pollutants s(ch
as sediment, acid mine dr-iD-ge, and pesticides c trried into
streams by storm runoff. Discharges of iionpoint pcllution can
occur anywhere along a water body in contrast to sources where
the point of discharge is from a ccnduit; as a result, nonpoint
sources are more difficult to control. Findings/Conclusions:
The best way to control nonpoint pcllution is to prevent as much
of it as possible from reaching the water through proper
management of the land. More attention is needed to control this
type of pollution because it can render streams unfit for
fish .ng and swimming according to goals set for 1983. State and
local agencies are not using adequate data for planning
s,olutions to this problem. Since tctal funds for water pollution
control are limited, better data are needed to set priorities
and evaluate alteraatives. The lack of data available on
nonpoint sources of pollution is attributable t. past and
current emphasis on controlling point sources cf pollvtion.
Recommendations: The Administrator of EPA should: initiate a
program to provide for the collection of adequate data oi
relationships among sources of water pollution and expected
impacts of control techniques; assess the resources EPA and
State and locel planning agencies reed to collect adequate data;
develop legislative proposals to provide planning agencies
adequate time and funds to conduct proper planning; promote
interest and involvement in nonpoint planning and control at
high levels within otter Federal agencies; develop procedures to
identify budgeted and actual expenditares zelated to nonpoint
planning and control; and place reEponsibility for administering
the program at a higher level within EPA. Cong-ess should
address itself to questions concerning the adequacy of Federal
funds for nonpoiat source pollution control and, if funds are to
be provided, determine what criteria should be used to determine](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.gao/gaobaawhj0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)