No Southern State has enacted any type of 
comprehensive forest-practice regulatory legisla- 
tion based on water-quality control. At this time, no 
enactment of such statutes in the South is anticipat- 
ed, although there has been occasional mention of 
the subject in several States. The universal ap- 
proach in the Southern States to controlling non- 
point source silvicultural pollution has been the de- 
velopment and utilization of voluntary BMP's--to be 
implemented through training and educational pro- 
grams (Goetz! and Siegel 1980). 
Each Southern State does have a general 
water-quality statute, often enacted long before the 
1972 Federal legislation. Most of these laws, howev- 
er, have been amended in recent years. Although 
not specifically keyed to water quality and forestry, 
they do contain provisions that apply to pollution 
caused by human activity in and around forested 
areas. They generally empower a designated State 
agency to adopt standards and rules to deal with 
the consequences of polluting activities in forested 
areas rather thatn addressing the manner in which 
forestry operations are conducted (Goetzl and 
Siegel 1980). All of the Southern State water-quality 
statutes contain provisions for the establishment of 
water-quality standards. These vary from State to 
State, but all meet at least the minimum EPA re- 
quirements. However, water-quality standards 
specifically for sediment, the chief pollutant at- 
tributable to silvicultural activities, have never been 
definitively established. It is difficult to set a standard 
because sediment levels are extremely variable, dif- 
ficult to measure and compare, and occur naturally 
in substantial quantities. 
A number of Southern States also have other 
laws that relate to water quality even though they 
were primarily enacted for some other purpose. 
Secondary provisions in statutes that pertain to pro- 
tection of acquatic environments often have rele- 
vance for forest-management practices. These laws 
include statutes that prohibit stream obstruction 
and that protect designated scenic rivers or natural 
streams. 
Despite the South's traditional conservatism, a 
number of local governments have enacted ordi- 
nances to regulate logging practices in order to 
protect water quality or to prevent damage to local 
roads. Some urban counties--particularly in Geor- 
gia, Florida, and North Carolina--also regulate log- 
ging in order to control unbridled development, 
eliminate trash-covered logging sites, and protect 
esthetic values. 
The next section of this paper discusses the 
specific water-quality implementing mechanisms 
utilized in each Southern State for the control of 
forestry practices as required by the 1972 Federal 
Water Pollution Control Act amendments. The dis- 
cussion is based on State statutes, published volun- 
tary guidelines, and conversations and correspond- 
ence with State officials. 
Water Quality Protection 
Legislation and Programs in the South 
Alabama 
The Alabama silvicultural nonpoint pollution- 
control program is based on the voluntary use of 
BMP's, as outlined in the State's "Handbook of Best 
Management Practices for Silviculture." This non- 
regulatory approach emphasizes education, moni- 
toring of forestry operations, and continuous plan- 
ning. Several studies by the Alabama Water 
Pollution Commission have demonstrated that the 
BMP's are effective in minimizing forestry pollution 
(National Council of the Paper Industry for Air and 
Stream Improvement 1983). 
Formal water-quality legislation in Alabama 
does not specifically address forestry operations. 
The Water Pollution Control Act, passed in 1972 and 
amended several times, emphasizes damage to fish 
and wildlife, and public health concerns. The law 
could, however, be utilized against timber operators 
if pollution from their activities clearly results in harm 
to acquatic life, wildlife, or persons (Goetzl and 
Siegel 1980). 
Arkansas 
Arkansas relies primarily on an educational pro- 
gram to encourage the use of voluntary silvicultural 
BMP's as published by the State Forestry Commis- 
sion. The Commission has monitored several hun- 
dred logging sites throughout the State to evaluate 
the implementation of BMP's and the performance 
of operators in protecting water quality. It reports a 
steady improvement in practices (National Council 
of the Paper Industry for Air and Stream Improve- 
ment 1983). 
The Arkansas Water and Air Pollution Control 
Act, originally enacted in 1949 and amended nu- 
merous times, does not mention silvicultural activi- 
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