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Clean Sampling and Analysis of River and Estuarine Waters for Trace Metal Studies
Published on: July 1, 2016
Understanding water quality trading: the basics
Virginia M Kibler1, Kavya P Kasturi
1Office of Wastewater Management, US Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, MC:4203M, Washington, DC, 20460, USA. kibler.virginia@epa.gov
Journal of Environmental Monitoring : JEM
|December 1, 2007
Summary
The United States EPA
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Environmental Policy
- Water Resource Management
Background:
- The United States is embracing market-based incentives for water quality protection.
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its National Water Quality Trading Policy in 2003.
- This policy has increased interest in water quality trading programs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce the concept of water quality trading as a market-based incentive.
- To highlight the significance of the EPA's National Water Quality Trading Policy.
- To outline the EPA's efforts in developing resources for successful trading programs.
Main Methods:
- Policy analysis of the National Water Quality Trading Policy.
- Review of EPA's initiatives to support water quality trading.
- Conceptual framework for understanding water quality trading programs.
Main Results:
- The introduction of the EPA's Trading Policy marks a shift towards market-based solutions.
- There is growing interest in implementing water quality trading.
- EPA is actively developing tools and training to facilitate these programs.
Conclusions:
- Water quality trading represents a new era in environmental protection in the U.S.
- The EPA's policy is a key driver for this market-based approach.
- Successful implementation requires understanding and support, which EPA aims to provide.
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