    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1999, Book I)]
    [May 29, 1999]
    [Pages 857-858]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Memorandum on Clean Water Protection
    May 29, 1999

    Memorandum for the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of
    Agriculture, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

    Subject: Clean Water Protection

        Fifteen months ago, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Clean
    Water Act, my Administration set forth a vision for a new generation of
    clean water protection through our Clean Water Action Plan. The Action
    Plan strengthens protections for our Nation's waters, addresses the
    remaining sources of water quality impairment, and provides the tools
    and resources that States, Tribes, and communities need to control
    pollution on a coordinated basis throughout their watersheds.
        The Action Plan recognizes that despite significant progress, the
    challenge for all of us in protecting our Nation's waters remains
    unfinished. The health of our people continues to be threatened by
    exposure to harmful organisms in our waters; consumption of fish from
    many of our waters presents a threat to the most vulnerable among us;
    polluted runoff has for too long eluded remedy using conventional
    approaches. The Action Plan was coupled with a challenge to the Congress
    to reauthorize and strengthen the Clean Water Act, but the Congress has
    yet to act on this challenge.
        As we begin the beach-going season, when families are reminded again
    about the importance of clean water to their recreation, their well-
    being, and the economy, we remain anxious to work with the Congress on
    strengthening the Clean Water Act. We must not wait for the Congress,
    however, before using our available resources and authority to further
    accelerate the effort to protect America's waters and the health and
    safety of the American public.
        Accordingly, I direct you to take the following additional steps,
    consistent with the Clean Water Act and the Clean Water Action Plan, to
    protect public health and clean water.
        First, I direct the Park Service and other units of the Department
    of the Interior to strengthen water-quality protections at all beaches
    managed by the Department. Improved monitoring should be used wherever
    necessary to enhance the public's right to know that beaches are safe
    for their families and to assist the Environmental Protection Agency
    (EPA), States, and Tribes to identify and stop the causes of beach
    closures.
        Second, I direct the EPA to work with the States to expedite the
    pace at which they will strengthen their beach and recreational water
    quality standards, so that the public will be able to enjoy the same
    strong level of protection at all the Nation's beaches no later than
    2003. In accordance with the EPA's Beach Action Plan, the EPA should
    promulgate standards in cases where a State does not amend its water
    quality standards to include the EPA-recommended criteria in a timely
    manner.
        Third, I direct the EPA to improve protection of public health at
    our Nation's beaches by developing, within 1 year, a strong national
    regulation to prevent the over 40,000 annual sanitary sewer overflows
    from contaminating our Nation's beaches and jeopardizing the health of

    [[Page 858]]

    our Nation's families. At a minimum, the program must raise the standard
    for sewage treatment to adequately protect public health and provide
    full information to communities about these water quality problems and
    associated health risks.
        Fourth, I direct the Department of the Interior and the Department
    of Agriculture to enhance management of Federal lands to increase
    protection of waters on or near Federal lands, and to identify waters on
    or near Federal lands that require special protection. Specifically, a
    proposal for a unified Federal policy on watershed management, developed
    under the Clean Water Action Plan, should be circulated first for
    consultation with States and Indian Tribes, and then published in the
    Federal Register for public comment no later than July 15, 1999.
        Each of these measures should be implemented through a process that
    provides appropriate opportunities for participation and comment by
    States, Tribes, and the affected public.
        This memorandum is not intended to create any right, benefit, or
    trust responsibility, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or
    equity by a party against the United States, its agencies or
    instrumentalities, or any other person.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    Note: This memorandum was embargoed for release until 10:06 a.m.