The status of the National Irrigation Return Flow Research and Development Program is presented. Current research projects and future program development are discussed. The report represents the position of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with regard to the development of effective controls on the quality of irrigation return flows. Program goals and milestones are outlined. A number of potential control measures are discussed. Improvements in the water delivery system, on-the-farm water management, and the water removal system are considered with respect to improving the quality of irrigation return flows and decreasing the degradation of receiving waters. Research and investigations are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of potential control measures. Demonstrations and educational activities will be required to overcome institutional, political, and legal constraints to water management reform.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was introduced on December 2, 1970 by President Richard Nixon. The agency is charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress. The EPA's struggle to protect health and the environment is seen through each of its official publications. These publications outline new policies, detail problems with enforcing laws, document the need for new legislation, and describe new tactics to use to solve these issues. This collection of publications ranges from historic documents to reports released in the new millennium, and features works like: Bicycle for a Better Environment, Health Effects of Increasing Sulfur Oxides Emissions Draft, and Women and Environmental Health.