March 21, 2005

Hon. Carlos Lopez

President

Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board

P.O. Box 11488

San Juan, Puerto Rico  00910-1488

Dear Mr. Lopez:  

I am writing to encourage the Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board
(EQB) to initiate the rulemaking process to adopt the pending amendments
to the Puerto Rico Water Quality Standards Regulations (PRWQSR). 
Adoption of the antidegradation implementation methods and the pathogens
criteria in these amendments will fulfill EQB(s obligation under section
303(c) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. (1313(c), and will fully
satisfy the requirements of the federal BEACH Act.   

EQB included a commitment in its Fiscal Year 2005 (FY-05) Consolidated
Water Workplan to complete the adoption process, and initiate the
implementation of these amendments.  It is our understanding that the
proposed rulemaking package was completed by EQB(s Water Quality Area
several months ago, and has been awaiting final approval by the EQB
Governing Board to allow for the initiation of the public participation
process.   It is very important that EQB complete the adoption process
as soon as possible, and submit the final adopted PRWQSR to EPA for
review.  To this end, I am requesting that the Governing Board make
every effort to expedite its approval of the proposed rulemaking
package.   

Please be aware that a certification from the Commonwealth(s Secretary
of Justice is also required under 40 CFR 131.6(e) as part of the final
PRWQSR submission.  

EPA Region 2 looks forward to receiving the final adopted PRWQSR for
review and agency action, and to continuing to work with EQB to further
improve the PRWQSR. 

If you have any questions, please call me at (212) 637-5000 or have
your staff contact Mr. Walter Mugdan, Director, Division of
Environmental Planning and Protection at (212) 637-3725.

Sincerely,

Kathleen C. Callahan

Acting Regional Administrator

cc:	Ruben Gonzalez, PREQB			

bcc: 	Jose Font, CEPD	

       	Carl-Axel Soderberg, CEPD						

Walter Mugdan, DEPP

        	Kevin Bricke, DEPP

           	Phyllis Feinmark, ORC-WGGL

        	Nina Dale, ORC-WGGL					

        	Mario Del Vicario, DEPP-CEPB

        	Felix Locicero, DEPP-CEPB

        	Wayne Jackson, DEPP-CEPB

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