This publication contains the American Samoa water quality standards. The text contains the list of all related definitions; indications on Policy on Water Quality Degradation; issues regarding the competent authorities; detailed standards review and list of adopted standards; water classifications, including specific rules on protected and prohibited uses; issues on mixing zones; rules aimed at water pollution control; rules regarding water quality certification; enforcement, compliance, water quality monitoring rules and requirements. In the Annex (A) issues regarding ammonia toxicity standards and criteria for fresh and marine waters are also provided. Quality and protection of fresh surface waters and ground waters; wetlands; embayments; open coastal waters; ocean waters; radioactivity; different toxic substances and chemical control; toxicity requirements (acute and chronic); specific biocriteria indications; land disturbing activities; on site disposal systems; animal waste control; storm water control; hydromodifications; procedures to apply for water quality certification (contents of application and certification); water quality certification-adoption of new or revised water quality standards; sanitary survey requirements; and compliance schedules for national pollution discharge elimination system (NPDES) permits, are all topics covered by these rules. Any private or public development which would constitute a source of pollution to the waters of American Samoa shall provide the degree of waste treatment and/or operational and management practices necessary to preserve the quality of these waters. The Territory shall preserve, protect, and restore water resources to as near their natural condition. The condition of these waterbodies shall be determined from measures of physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of each waterbody type, according to its designated use. As a component of these measures, the biological integrity of the benthic communities living within waters shall be assessed by comparison to reference conditions(s) with similar abiotic and biotic environmental settings that represent the optimal or least impacted condition for that system. Such reference conditions shall be those observed to support the greatest community evenness, diversity, and abundance of aquatic life as is expected to be or has been historically found in natural settings essentially undisturbed or minimally disturbed by human impacts, development, or discharges. This condition shall be determined by consistent sampling and reliable measures of selected indicator communities of flora and/or fauna and may be used in conjunction with other measures of water quality. Waters shall be of a sufficient quality to support a resident biological community as defined by metrics derived based upon reference conditions. These narrative biological criteria shall apply to fresh water, wetlands, estuaries, and coral reefs and other marine conditions based upon their respective reference conditions and metrics.
American Samoa (USA) · 2018-01-01