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SELECTING WATER QUALITY GOALS <br /> Water Quality Standards Obtain information on the <br /> tY Obtain information <br /> from the applicable on the site. waste to be discharged. <br /> Water Quality Control Plans <br /> What bodies of water may be <br /> (or have been)affected ? <br /> Obtain informatlon on <br /> - What are the beneficial uses the site contaminants. <br /> of those bodies of water? <br /> What are the water quality objectives <br /> to protect those beneficial uses ? <br /> What numerical water quality limits <br /> will implement all applicable <br /> water quali41 <br /> ty objeRives ? <br /> Choose the most limiting <br /> of those water quality limits. <br /> 41 <br /> Water Quality Goal <br /> Figure 1 <br /> versely impacted the quality of waters of the state. The process of selecting water quality goals is shown in <br /> I <br /> Water quality goals are not necessarily"water quality Figure 1. <br /> standards",which are defined specifically in federal <br /> regulations(see below)and which are subject to the Water Quality Standards <br /> administrative rule-making process. Rather,water <br /> quality goals also include drinking water standards, The term"water quality standards" is defined in <br /> water quality criteria,advisories,and other scientific regulations which implement the federal Clean Water <br /> numerical values which represent concentrations of Act. That definition reads: <br /> chemicals that can limit certain uses of water. In effect, <br /> these water quality goals are used to implement the "Water quality standards are provisions of state or <br /> narrative water quality objectives contained in the state federal law which consist of a designated use or uses <br /> and regional Water Quality Control Plans. It is from for the waters of the United States and water quality <br /> among these water quality goals(including the appli- criteria for such waters based upon such uses. Water <br /> cable numerical water quality objectives)that a single quality standards are to protect the public health or <br /> goal for a pollutant is selected which is most protective welfare,enhance the quality of water and serve the <br /> of all of the beneficial use(s)of the water being im- purposes of the Act." <br /> pacted or threatened. As mentioned above,back- '�, —40 CFR 130.2(c)and 131.3(1) <br /> ground concentrations—levels of water quality <br /> parameters which are out of the influence of waste In California,the Water Quality Control Plans contain <br /> management activities or pollutant releases re often the state's water qualitv standards because these plans <br /> chosen as water quality goals. Even in cases where set forth beneficial uses of waters of the state and water <br /> background levels are not used, water quality goals are quality objectives(the"criteria" under the Clean Water <br /> selected so as to protect all applicable beneficial uses. Act)to protect those uses. One critical difference <br /> /on B.Marshark,D.Env. Page 3 <br />