Nutrient Criteria–Wetlands i DISCLAIMER

This manual provides technical guidance to States, Authorized Tribes, Territories and other authorized jurisdictions to establish water quality criteria and standards under the Clean Water Act (CWA), in order to protect aquatic life from acute and chronic effects of nutrient over-enrichment. Under the CWA, States and Authorized Tribes are directed to establish water quality criteria to protect designated uses. States and Authorized Tribes may use approaches for establishing water quality criteria that differ from those recommended in this guidance. This manual constitutes EPA’s scientific recommendations regarding the development of numeric criteria reflecting ambient concentrations of nutrients that protect aquatic life. However, it does not substitute for the CWA or EPA’s regulations; nor is it a regulation itself. Thus, it cannot impose legally binding requirements on EPA, States, Authorized Tribes, or the regulated community, and might not apply to a particular situation or circumstance. Further, States and Authorized Tribes may choose to develop different types of criteria for wetlands protection, including narrative criteria. EPA may change this guidance in the future. Nutrient Criteria–Wetlandsi