Federal register definition of waters of the united. Environmental protection agency clean water act cre. This 2000 national water quality inventory report is the th in a series published since 1975 under section 305 b of the clean water act. These data represent geographic terms used within the clean water act cwa. Sep 08, 2016 the clean water act cwa establishes the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the united states and regulating quality standards for surface waters. The 1972 passage of the clean water act cwa marked an important milestone in the nations. The clean water act cwa establishes the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the united states and regulating quality standards for surface waters.
Under sdwa, the united states environmental protection agency epa is given authority to set the standards for drinking water quality and oversee states. A summary of the law congressional research service 1 introduction the principal law governing pollution of the nations surface waters is the federal water pollution control act, or clean water act. The clean water act cwa establishes the basic structure for regulating. Clean water act or cwa or act to restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the nations waters. Activities in waters of the united states regulated under this program include fill for development, water resource projects such as dams and levees, infrastructure development such as highways and airports and.
Reflects all laws adopted prior to april 1, 2011, that have modified the federal water pollution control act or that have been codified in chapter 26 of title 33. The minnesota pollution control agency s mpcas federal clean water act section 319 section 319 grant program provides funding and technical assistance to local government units lgus who work. In with sections 305b and 303d of the federal clean water. Federal court nullifies clean water act general permit for.
Growing public awareness and concern for controlling water pollution led to sweeping amendments in 1972. The cwa was a response to increasing public concern for the environment and for the condition of the nations waters. Introduction to wqs or water quality standards that address. The federal water pollution control act, comprising this chapter, was originally enacted by act june 30, 1948, ch. In an order with serious and immediate national implications for the construction of pipelines, electrical lines, fiber optic cable, and other utility projects, a montana federal court has vacated clean water act cwa nationwide permit nwp 12 on the basis that the u. The federal clean air act california air resources board. Permit program under cwa section 404 section 404 of the. Federal register clean water act methods update rule for. Section 404 of the federal clean water act cwa regulates the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the u.
Sep 20, 2012 clean water act cwa or act establishes the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into u. Clean water act permits water quality certification by the state to receive a federal permit 33 u. Congress enacted the federal water pollution control act amendments of 1972, public law 92500, 86 stat. Its objective is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nations waters. The 1972 passage of the clean water act marked an important milestone in the nations. The federal water policy, the first of its kind in canada, the policy was formulated after several years of intensive consultation, both within and outside the government.
Chapter 26 water pollution prevention and control sections 125187. Federal and new york state regulation of drinking water. The principal law governing pollution of the nations surface waters is the federal water. As amended in 1977, the law became commonly known as the clean water act cwa. Federal water pollution control act unt digital library. The term municipality means a city, town, borough, county, parish, district, association, or other public body created by or pursuant to state law and having jurisdiction over disposal of sewage, industrial wastes, or other wastes, or an indian tribe or an authorized indian tribal organization, or a designated and approved management agency under section 1288 of this title. It was formerly referred to as the federal water pollution control act of 1972 or federal water pollution control act amendments of 1972 public law 92500, 33 u. Originally enacted in 1948, it was totally revised by amendments in.
Federal clean water act tip of the mitt watershed council. Minnesota federal clean water act section 404 permit program. Federal water pollution control act clean water act. Large spills are threatening releases of hazardous substances where there is a potential for offsite migration, property damage, fire, explosion. This is a noteworthy insight with water pollution abatement the focus of the 1972 clean water act. Given the importance of assuring clean water, the federal government and new york. The clean water act cwa is the cornerstone of surface water quality protection in the united states.
The water quality standards program acts as a road map for achieving the goals of the clean water act by doing three specific things. Section 404 of the clean water act cwa establishes a program to regulate the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the united states, including wetlands. Study of the costs and benefits of state assumption of the. The federal clean water act authorizes the clean water state revolving fund program to provide funds to states to finance water pollution control projects. Basic elements of the act include national ambient air quality standards for major air pollutants, hazardous air pollutants standards, state attainment plans, motor vehicle emissions. The list appears in the code of federal regulations at 40 cfr 401. You may need a pdf reader to view some of the files on this page. The clean water act and the constitution legal structure and the publics right to a clean and healthy environment second edition robin kundis craig eli press environmental law institute washington, d. Clean water act cwa the clean water act is an act passed by the u.
Section 401 of the federal clean water act provides states with the authority to ensure that federal agencies will not issue permits or licenses that violate the water quality standards, or other applicable authorities, of a state or tribe through a process known as water quality certification. May 27, 2015 the clean water act provides federal jurisdiction over navigable waters, which it rather unhelpfully defines to mean waters of the united states without any further elaboration. The federal water pollution control act, commonly known as the clean water act was. The clean water act cwa also has the goal of attaining water quality. Minnesota federal clean water act section 404 permit. Environmental protection agency epa must then summarize these assessments and transmit that summary report to congress. Originally enacted in 1948, it was totally revised by amendments in 1972 that gave the act its current shape.
Toxic and priority pollutants under the clean water act. It provides for the maintenance of the chemical, physical and biological integrity of nations waters. Last month, a bipartisan group of senators unveiled s. The clean water act references the toxic pollutant list at section 307a1. For the first time, the agencies are streamlining the definition so that it includes four simple categories of jurisdictional waters, provides clear exclusions for many. Environmental protection agency awards annual capitalization grants to each state to capitalize. Authority was provided to the secretary of health, education, and welfare to undertake research. Some states have chosen to develop ground water quality standards mentioned in the section entitled. Watershed academy web introduction to the clean water act. A snapshot of the clean water act provisions, as expressed in the amended law, is available in its entirety or by title from the listings below in portable document file pdf format.
A summary of the law congressional research service summary the principal law governing pollution of the nations surface waters is the federal water pollution control act, or clean water act. Environmental protection agency epa and the department of the army army published the navigable waters protection rule to define waters of the united states wotus in the federal register. A summary of the law introduction the principal law governing pollution of the nations surface waters is the federal water pollution control act, or clean water act. The clean water act cwa of 1972 is federal legislation governing water pollution. It addresses the management of water resources, balancing water uses with the requirements of the many interrelationships within the ecosystem. The mix of interest and politics was never more prevalent than during the creation of the 1972 federal water pollution control act. For the clean water act, its assigned number is title 33 navigation and navigable waters. The protections of the federal clean water act, enacted in 1972, apply to navigable waters. Regulations public water systems drinking water healthy. In this paper, i use the 1972 clean water act hereinafter cwa requirements on local wastewater infrastructure to test whether municipal growth is enhanced or depressed by compliance with federal mandates. In this lesson, students consider how the clean water act of 1972 became a law. May 05, 2015 the federal clean air act fcaa is the federal law passed in 1970, and last amended in 1990, which forms the basis for the national air pollution control effort. The act does not deal directly with ground water or with water quantity issues.
The federal water pollution control act amendments of 1961 p. It served as a major revision of the federal water pollution control act of. Environmental protection agency eparegion 5, for minnesota. Act this chapter may be cited as the federal water. This version depicts the law as of november 27, 2002. Growing public awareness and concern for controlling water pollution led to enactment of the federal water pollution control act amendments of. Executive order signals federal clean water act jurisdiction. Canada water act annual report for april 2015 to march 2016 iv executive summary the canada water act provides an enabling framework for collaboration among the federal and provincial territorial governments in matters relating to water resources. Many of the entries, such as haloethers, are for groups of pollutants. Water quality in texas june, 2015 in compliance with sections 305b and 303d of the federal clean water act prepared by surface water quality monitoring program monitoring and assessment section water quality planning division. Notice of solicitation for applications sfa nonpoint source pollution is the leading cause of water quality degradation in the united states and poses a substantial problem for the health of new mexicos streams, rivers, and lakes. United states in the cwas definition of a person so that federal facilities are subject to. After a federal law, such as the clean water act, is enacted by congress and signed by the president, it is assigned a number in the united states code.
This definition is critically important because it determines which water bodies are subject to federal permitting requirements and which waters are beyond. The safe drinking water act external sdwa was passed by congress in 1974, with subsequent amendments in 1986 and 1996, to ensure and protect the quality of americans drinking water. History of the clean water act the federal water pollution control act of 1948 was the first major u. The clean water act cwa is the primary federal law in the united states governing water pollution. Originally enacted in 1948, it was totally revised by amendments in 1972 that gave the act its current dimensions. Section 305b requires states to describe the quality of their waters. This doc ument was adapted from a document originally prepared. Relationship between cwa section 307a1 and the toxic pollutant list. Maintain chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nations waters through the elimination of discharges of pollutants to surface waters. Federal clean water act section 319 grant federal fiscal year. The basis of the cwa was enacted in 1948 and was called the federal water pollution control act, but the act was significantly reorganized and expanded in 1972.