Tribal Water Quality Standards Programs

Dozens of tribes have developed and adopted water quality standards that apply on their lands. EPA has a specific process for approving tribal water quality standards, but not all tribes have chosen to pursue EPA approval. Contact the tribal governments near you to find out whether they have developed and approved water quality standards. Whenever possible, work with tribes that are in your watershed or in your region. It can be a mutually beneficial alliance!

You can view all the EPA-approved (tribal water quality standards here)[http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/standards/wqslibrary/tribes.html].

Regional EPA offices may accept and approve tribal water quality standards program if:

“The Indian Tribe is recognized by the Secretary of the Interior and meets definitions for Indian Reservation and Indian Tribe,

• The Indian Tribe has a governing body carrying out substantial governmental duties and powers,

• The water quality standards program pertains to the management and protection of the water resources which are within the borders of the Indian reservation and held by the Indian Tribe, within the borders of the Indian reservation and held by the United States in trust for Indians, within the borders of the Indian reservation and held by a member of the Indian Tribe if such property interest is subject to a trust restriction on alienation, or otherwise within the borders of the Indian reservation, and

• The Indian Tribe is reasonably expected to be capable… of carrying out the functions of an effective water quality standards program in a manner consistent with the terms and purposes of the Act and applicable regulations.”

(40CFR131.8(a))

< Back to Previous Page