ASEPA develops plan to address the need
to monitor non-point source pollution
The American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) has developed the ASEPA Nearshore Marine Water Quality Monitoring Plan to address the need to monitor for non-point source pollution in American Samoa.
Two objectives of the ASEPA Nearshore Marine Water Quality Monitoring Plan are to determine whether nearshore marine water quality meets the American Samoa Water Quality Standards (ASWQS) for enterococci, and to inform the public when coastal recreation waters do not meet ASWQS for enterococci, as well as the potential risks associated with the polluted waters.
According to the ASEPA, a main group of pollutants which causes water quality impairments in American Samoa are pathogen indicators, specifically enterococcus in coastal recreation waters.
The American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency has created a file that contains the ASEPA Nearshore Marine Water Quality Monitoring Plan, a summary of historical bacteriological data of coastal recreation waters, the American Samoa Water Quality Standards, and the advisory format used to give notice to the public that the coastal recreation waters are not meeting or are not expected to meet applicable water quality standards for enterococci.
These documents are available for viewing to the public at the ASEPA office in Utulei. ASEPA invites public comments concerning the monitoring and public notification program regarding:
(1) The beach evaluation and classification process, including a list of waters to be monitored and beach ranking;
(2) The sampling design and monitoring plan, including sampling location and sampling frequency; and
(3) The public notification and risk communication plan, including methods to notify the public of a beach advisory.
Comments must be submitted in writing within 30 days of the published date of this notice. Submit comments to the ASEPA office or by mail to the ASEPA Water Program, P.O. Box PPA, Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799.
More information can be obtained by contacting Edna Buchan or LT Elena Vaouli at the ASEPA office at 633-2304.
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