{
  "id": "RS21403",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
  "number": "RS21403",
  "active": false,
  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
  "versions": [
    {
      "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
      "id": 103133,
      "date": "2003-01-29",
      "retrieved": "2016-04-08T14:54:34.052544",
      "title": "EPA's Water Quality Trading Policy",
      "summary": "On January 13, 2003, the Environmental Protection Agency announced a Water Quality Trading\nPolicy intended as an innovative approach to assist industry and municipalities in meeting Clean\nWater Act obligations. Trading allows one source to meet regulatory requirements by buying credit\nfor pollutant reductions from another source that has lower pollution control costs. The policy\nrevises a 2002 proposal which reflected lessons learned from a similar trading policy issued by the\nClinton Administration in 1996. Water quality or effluent trading projects have occurred in the\nUnited States since the early 1980s. The new policy is generally supported by industry groups, state\nand local governments, and agriculture groups. Environmental groups are split on the concept. \nSome argue that it is not lawful and are critical that the Bush Administration policy lacks a number\nof details that they regard as necessary. Others support the concept, with adequate safeguards, as a\nvaluable tool in cleaning up waterways. Congress has conducted some oversight of water quality\ntrading and could continue doing so as the new policy is implemented. Legislation to codify a water\ntrading policy in the Clean Water Act could be considered, as well. This report provides background\non water quality trading and the EPA policy. It will not be updated.",
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORTS",
      "active": false,
      "formats": [
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          "format": "PDF",
          "encoding": null,
          "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/RS21403",
          "sha1": "27b7a5dca649327bccd6e8b79c1f5957037f9b17",
          "filename": "files/20030129_RS21403_27b7a5dca649327bccd6e8b79c1f5957037f9b17.pdf",
          "images": null
        },
        {
          "format": "HTML",
          "filename": "files/20030129_RS21403_27b7a5dca649327bccd6e8b79c1f5957037f9b17.html"
        }
      ],
      "topics": []
    }
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Environmental Policy"
  ]
}