| #Q001 | administrative | operational | mandatory | CCMP Development and Implementation | other | Each NEP develops and implements a long-term plan (referred to as a Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP)) based on local priorities to guide their efforts. | | high |
| #Q002 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Management Conference CCMP Tailoring | other | Moreover, each MC ensures that the CCMP is uniquely tailored to the local environmental conditions and is based on local input, thereby supporting local priorities. | | high |
| #Q003 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Estuary Nomination Elements | other | Nominations begin formally when the governor(s) of the state or states in which the study area is located submits a package to the EPA Administrator based on specific critical elements outlined in the call for nominations. Critical elements of the nomination include: demonstrating significant environmental need to protect and restore the nominated estuary; committing to fully develop a National Estuary Program consistent with Section 320 of the Clean Water Act; committing resources to support a program, if selected, with long-term matching funds and other resources; identifying a lead entity to manage the program; demonstrating strong state and local long-term support from a wide range of partners and stakeholders; engaging in the development and implementation of an EPA approved Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP). | | high |
| #Q004 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Primary Drinking Water Regulation Content Requirements | drinking water | The term "primary drinking water regulation" means a regulation which- ... (D) contains criteria and procedures to assure a supply of drinking water which dependably complies with such maximum contaminant levels; including accepted methods for quality control and testing procedures to insure compliance with such levels and to insure proper operation and maintenance of the system, and requirements as to (i) the minimum quality of water which may be taken into the system and (ii) siting for new facilities for public water systems. | | high |
| #Q005 | administrative | reporting | guidance | Guidance for Alternative Testing Procedures | drinking water | At any time after promulgation of a regulation referred to in this paragraph, the Administrator may add equally effective quality control and testing procedures by guidance published in the Federal Register. | Applies after a primary drinking water regulation has been promulgated. | high |
| #Q006 | operational | operational | mandatory | Treatment of Guidance as Regulatory Alternative | drinking water | Such procedures shall be treated as an alternative for public water systems to the quality control and testing procedures listed in the regulation. | Applies when the Administrator has issued alternative testing procedures via guidance. | high |
| #Q007 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Irrigation District Exemption Compliance | drinking water, agricultural water | An irrigation district in existence prior to May 18, 1994, that provides primarily agricultural service through a piped water system with only incidental residential or similar use shall not be considered to be a public water system if the system or the residential or similar users of the system comply with subclause (II) or (III) of clause (i). | District must have existed prior to May 18, 1994 and provide primarily agricultural service. | high |
| #Q008 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Separate Budget Identification for Title XIV | drinking water | The Administrator shall identify in the agency's annual budget all funding and full-time equivalents administering such title XIV separately from funding and staffing for the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. | | high |
| #Q009 | administrative | treatment | mandatory | Primary Drinking Water Regulation Content (Contaminants and Treatment) | drinking water | The term "primary drinking water regulation" means a regulation which— (A) applies to public water systems; (B) specifies contaminants which, in the judgment of the Administrator, may have any adverse effect on the health of persons; (C) specifies for each such contaminant either— (i) a maximum contaminant level, if, in the judgment of the Administrator, it is economically and technologically feasible to ascertain the level of such contaminant in water in public water systems, or (ii) if, in the judgment of the Administrator, it is not economically or technologically feasible to so ascertain the level of such contaminant, each treatment technique known to the Administrator which leads to a reduction in the level of such contaminant sufficient to satisfy the requirements of section 300g–1 of this title. | | high |
| #Q010 | administrative | unknown | mandatory | Rural Water Survey Duty | drinking water | Administrator of Environmental Protection Agency, after consultation with Secretary of Agriculture and the several States, to enter into arrangements with public or private entities to conduct a survey of quantity, quality, and availability of rural drinking water supplies, which survey was to include, but not be limited to, consideration of number of residents in each rural area who presently are being inadequately served by a public or private drinking water supply system, or by an individual home drinking water supply system, or who presently have limited or otherwise inadequate access to drinking water, or who, due to absence or inadequacy of a drinking water supply system, are exposed to an increased health hazard, and who have experienced incidents of chronic or acute illness, which may be attributed to inadequacy of a drinking water supply system. | Administrator must consult with Secretary of Agriculture and the several States. | high |
| #Q011 | reporting | reporting | recommended | Consumer Information and Notification Recommendation | drinking water | consumers served by public water systems should be provided with information on the source of the water they are drinking and its quality and safety, as well as prompt notification of any violation of drinking water regulations. | | high |
| #Q012 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Primary Drinking Water Regulation - Mandatory Components | drinking water | The term "primary drinking water regulation" means a regulation which— (A) applies to public water systems; (B) specifies contaminants which, in the judgment of the Administrator, may have any adverse effect on the health of persons; (C) specifies for each such contaminant either— (i) a maximum contaminant level, if, in the judgment of the Administrator, it is economically and technologically feasible to ascertain the level of such contaminant in water in public water systems, or (ii) if, in the judgment of the Administrator, it is not economically or technologically feasible to so ascertain the level of such contaminant, each treatment technique known to the Administrator which leads to a reduction in the level of such contaminant sufficient to satisfy the requirements of section 300g–1 of this title; and (D) contains criteria and procedures to assure a supply of drinking water which dependably complies with such maximum contaminant levels; including accepted methods for quality control and testing procedures to insure compliance with such levels and to insure proper operation and maintenance of the system, and requirements as to (i) the minimum quality of water which may be taken into the system and (ii) siting for new facilities for public water systems. | | high |
| #Q013 | administrative | operational | guidance | Guidance for Alternative Testing Procedures | drinking water | At any time after promulgation of a regulation referred to in this paragraph, the Administrator may add equally effective quality control and testing procedures by guidance published in the Federal Register. | Must be equally effective to existing procedures. | high |
| #Q014 | operational | operational | mandatory | Legal Status of Alternative Testing Procedures | drinking water | Such procedures shall be treated as an alternative for public water systems to the quality control and testing procedures listed in the regulation. | Applies when the Administrator has issued guidance for alternative procedures. | high |
| #Q015 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Irrigation District Exclusion Condition | drinking water, agricultural water | An irrigation district in existence prior to May 18, 1994, that provides primarily agricultural service through a piped water system with only incidental residential or similar use shall not be considered to be a public water system if the system or the residential or similar users of the system comply with subclause (II) or (III) of clause (i). | District must have existed prior to May 18, 1994, and provide primarily agricultural service. | high |
| #Q016 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Separate Budgetary Identification for Title XIV | drinking water | The Administrator shall identify in the agency's annual budget all funding and full-time equivalents administering such title XIV separately from funding and staffing for the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. | | high |
| #Q017 | administrative | unknown | mandatory | Rural Water Survey Requirement | drinking water | Administrator of Environmental Protection Agency, after consultation with Secretary of Agriculture and the several States, to enter into arrangements with public or private entities to conduct a survey of quantity, quality, and availability of rural drinking water supplies... | Consultation with Secretary of Agriculture and States required. | high |
| #Q018 | reporting | reporting | recommended | Consumer Notification Recommendation | drinking water | consumers served by public water systems should be provided with information on the source of the water they are drinking and its quality and safety, as well as prompt notification of any violation of drinking water regulations. | | high |
| #Q019 | administrative | operational | mandatory | EPA Oversight and Support | other | In overseeing and managing the national program, EPA provides annual funding, national guidance and technical assistance to the local NEPs. | Applies during oversight and management of the National Estuary Program | high |
| #Q020 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Governor Nomination Submission | other | When the EPA periodically calls for nominations to bring on new NEPs, state governors in which the estuary and its watershed are located submit the nomination to the EPA Administrator. | When EPA calls for new NEP nominations | high |
| #Q021 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Management Conference Composition and Approach | other | Each NEP has a Management Conference (MC) that consists of diverse stakeholders and uses a collaborative, consensus-building approach to implement the CCMP. | | high |
| #Q022 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Community Decision-Making Involvement | other | The NEPs involve community members in the decision-making process. | Applies to all National Estuary Programs | high |
| #Q023 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Pensacola and Perdido Bays Designation Submission | other | Florida Governor to submit requisite information to support the designation of Pensacola and Perdido Bays as an Estuary of National Significance | In response to the Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary of National Significance Act of 2024 | high |
| #Q024 | design | operational | mandatory | CCMP Geographic Boundary Identification | aquatic life, recreational water, other | CCMPs identify a study area or geographic boundary within which the plan is focused and actions are implemented under Section 320 of the Clean Water Act. | Applies during the development of Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plans | high |
| #Q025 | administrative | operational | mandatory | CCMP Stakeholder Determination | other | The challenges, priorities, and actions in the CCMP reflect the study area and are determined by local, city, state, federal, private and non-profit stakeholders. | Applies to the formation of CCMP content | high |
| #Q026 | administrative | operational | mandatory | EPA Competitive Nomination Process | other | When calling for nominations, the EPA conducts a public, fair, and transparent competitive process. | Applies when EPA seeks to bring on new National Estuary Programs | high |