[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 40, Volume 19]
[Revised as of July 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 40CFR131.32]

[Page 378-379]
 
                   TITLE 40--PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT
 
         CHAPTER I--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 131--WATER QUALITY STANDARDS--Table of Contents
 
        Subpart D--Federally Promulgated Water Quality Standards
 
Sec. 131.32  Pennsylvania.

    (a) Antidegradation policy. This antidegradation policy shall be 
applicable to all waters of the United States within the Commonwealth of 
Pennsylvania, including wetlands.
    (1) Existing in-stream uses and the level of water quality necessary 
to protect the existing uses shall be maintained and protected.
    (2) Where the quality of the waters exceeds levels necessary to 
support propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife and recreation in 
and on the water, that quality shall be maintained and protected unless 
the Commonwealth

[[Page 379]]

finds, after full satisfaction of the inter-governmental coordination 
and public participation provisions of the Commonwealth's continuing 
planning process, that allowing lower water quality is necessary to 
accommodate important economic or social development in the area in 
which the waters are located. In allowing such degradation or lower 
water quality, the Commonwealth shall assure water quality adequate to 
protect existing uses fully. Further, the Commonwealth shall assure that 
there shall be achieved the highest statutory and regulatory 
requirements for all new and existing point sources and all cost-
effective and reasonable best management practices for nonpoint sources.
    (3) Where high quality waters are identified as constituting an 
outstanding National resource, such as waters of National and State 
parks and wildlife refuges and water of exceptional recreational and 
ecological significance, that water quality shall be maintained and 
protected.
    (b) [Reserved]

[61 FR 64822, Dec. 9, 1996]