Introduced in house 01061987 water quality act of 1987 title i. The 1977 amendments, the clean water act of 1977 p. Clean water rule definition of waters of the us a for purposes of the clean water act, 33 u. The 1977 act bolstered the environmental protection agencys epa. Section 404 establishes a program to regulate the discharge of dredged and fill material into waters of the united states, including wetlands.
The clean water act cwa passed in 1977 and acts as an amendment to the federal water pollution control act of 1972. Oct 04, 2016 the clean water act of 1977 has fulfilled that promiseand it also maintains the original promise of the clean water for the american people. An act to provide for the prevention and control of water pollution and the maintaining or restoring of wholesomeness of water for the establishment, with a view to carrying out the purposes aforesaid, of boards for the prevention and control of water pollution, for conferring on and assigning to such boards powers and functions. Natural resources conservation service nrcs is the lead agency in this effort. Moreover, section 305 b of the act requires epa to compile a biennial report to congress on the nations water quality. The clean water act of 1977 is actually an amended version of the federal water pollution control act amendments of 1972 that was passed in order to protect, restore, and maintain the chemical, physical. Of particular significance were the following provisions. The toxic pollutant list was developed in 1976 and subsequently added to the clean water act by congress in 1977. The clean water act targeted municipal waste treatment and industrial pollution sources, sometimes called point sources.
Front cover illustration taken from fundamentals of ecology, eugene p. Citizen suit guide california state water resources. Clean water act became the acts common name with amendments in 1977. Section 311 of cwa was amended by the oil pollution act opa of 1990, which has its own separate regulation and. Federal water pollution control act clean water act. As amended in 1977, the law became commonly known as the clean water act cwa. Under section 309, epa can issue administrative orders and can seek civil, criminal penalties against the violators of the act. Reports present a description of navigable water quality, protection of water. Today, because of the clean water act, roughly 40%. Since the passage of the 1977 amendments, the statute became known as the. Legislative history of the clean water act of 1977.
Water prevention and control of pollution act, 1974. The cwa included section 316b, the only portion that addresses the condition of water withdrawn from a receiving water rather than that discharged into a receiving water. Evolution of the meaning of waters of the united states. The state of michigan was realigned as a party plaintiff because of the mutuality of interest in the subject matter of this case. Environmental protection agency epa, which sets water quality standards, handles enforcement, and helps state and local governments develop their own pollution. Growing public awareness and concern for controlling water pollution led to sweeping amendments in 1972. The cwas goal is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nations waters. As amended in 1977, this law became commonly known as the clean water act. The cwa made it unlawful to discharge any pollutant from a point source into navigable waters, unless a permit authorized under the cwa was obtained. Congress responded to the water pollution problem described by professor hines by adopting the federal water pollution control act amendments of 1972, now known as the clean water act. Clean water act became the act s common name through amendments in 1977. Growing public awareness and concern for controlling water pollution led to enactment of the federal water pollution control act amendments of 1972.
Passed in 1972 and amended in 1977 and 1987, the clean water act was originally known as the federal water pollution control act. Federal water pollution control act fwpca amendments of 1972, pub. Technical guidance manual for the regulations promulgated. Be it enacted hy the senate and house of representatives of the clean water act united states of america in congress assembled, that this act may of 1977. The united states code is meant to be an organized, logical compilation of the laws passed by congress. The clean water act does not directly address groundwater contamination. The meaning of the 1977 clean water act about epa us epa. Most enhance the ability of the administrator of the environmental protection agency to deal with complex water pollution problems. More than seventy changes were made in the existing law. Prohibits federal grants, after october 1, 1981, which provide assistance only for facility plans, or plans, specifications, and estimates for any. 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. Clean water act became the acts common name through amendments in.
However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. You may need a pdf reader to view some of the files on this page. The clean water act of 1977 has fulfilled that promiseand it also maintains the original promise of the clean water for the american people. The clean water act of 1977 controlled the environmental protection agency, and made them enforce these rules on the public, and the many industrial corporations that contributed to this pollution.
One of several federal laws relating to the environment, the clean water act of 1977 is quite lengthy and to reproduce it here in its entirety would serve the needs of relatively few persons. Garbage, sewage, radioactive waste, chemical waste, and industrial waste. Compartmentalized thinking and the clean water act uf law. The act established the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the united states. The 1972 law gave epa the authority to set effluent standards on an industry basis technologybased and. 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. Authorization approval authorizes funds for fy 76, fy 77, and the transition quarter, which previously were appropriated by congress. Consequences of the clean water act and the demand for water. The application of the federal fiveyear statute of. For the regulations promulgated pursuant to section 301g of the clean water act of 1977 40 cfr part 125 subpart. However, much water pollution also comes from nonpoint pollution sources such as urban and agricultural runoff. Clean water act became the acts common name through amendments in 1977.
Clean water act of 1977 research paper clean water act. Evolution of the meaning of waters of the united states in. The cwa was a response to increasing public concern for the environment and for the condition of the nations waters. Evolution of the meaning of waters of the united states in the clean water act congressional research service summary the scope of waters that are properly the subject of federal water pollution legislation has been the subject of longstanding consideration by all three branches of the federal government. These questions need to be answered in the research report. The clean water act is the primary federal law in the united states governing water pollution. As amended in 1972, the law became commonly known as the clean water act cwa. The 1977 clean water act represents a major midcourse assessment of the nationts water quality goais, as expressed by congress in the federal water poilution control act amendments of 1972 more than two years in the making, the. The action was originally assigned to the honorable john feikens.
Commonly abbreviated as the cwa, the act established the goals of eliminating releases to water of high amounts of toxic substances, eliminating additional water pollution by 1985, and ensuring that surface waters would meet standards necessary for human sports and. The soil and water conservation act rca is a 1977 law p. The clean water act was passed when 60% of waterways in the us were not fishable or swimmable. Its objective is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nations waters. The discharger can be granted a section 301g variance by showing that the modified requirements will meet certain environmental criteria.
Clean water act amendments of 1981 amends the clean water act also known as the federal water pollution control act to revise provisions for grants for construction of treatment works title ii. State regulation on federal facilities under the federal. The clean water act has largely exempted these latter sources from regulation. The clean water act, with the new toxics provisions of 1977, provides controls over dispersal into the nations waters of those toxic substances which continue in use and the resource conservation and recovery act of 1976 provides similar controls over disposition of toxicsladen solid wastes, including municipal sewage sludge. Federal water pollution control act amendments clean water act p. Evolution of the meaning of waters of the united states in the clean water act congressional research service 1 or more than fortyfive years, all three branches of government have struggled with how to interpret the meaning of waters of the united states in the clean water act. The federal water pollution control act, comprising this chapter, was originally enacted by act june 30, 1948, ch. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Toxic and priority pollutants under the clean water act. The clean water act cwa is the primary federal law in the united states governing water pollution. History of the clean water act the federal water pollution control act of 1948 was the first major u. It gave epa the authority to implement pollution control programs such as setting wastewater standards for industry. At its top level, it divides the world of legislation into fifty topicallyorganized titles, and each title is further subdivided into any number of logical subtopics. Cwa was enacted in 1972 in response to nationwide water pollution issues and was amended in 1977 and 1987.
The clean water act requires achievement of best available. United states codetitle 33chapter 26 wikisource, the. Legislative history clean water act legal research. The principal law governing pollution of the nations surface waters is the federal water pollution control act, or clean water act.
The cwas goal is to restore and maintain the chemical. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle. Point sources are distinct conveyances such as pipes or manmade ditches. The clean water act of 1972 is the primary authority for the nations water pollution control programs and established the structure for regulating discharge of pollutants and surface water quality. The list was intended to be used by epa and states as a starting point to ensure that effluent guidelines regulations, water quality criteria and standards, and npdes permit requirements addressed the problems of toxics in waterways. The clean water act cwa is the primary federal law in the united states governing water. Title i of the great lakes critical programs act of 1990, for example, put into place parts of the great lakes water quality agreement of 1978, signed by the u. Groundwater protection provisions are included in the safe drinking water act, resource conservation and recovery act, and the superfund act. Major changes have subsequently been introduced via amendatory legislation including the clean water act of 1977 and the water quality act wqa of 1987. In this twopage typed report, you will investigate the clean water act of 1977. The clean water act serves as the basis for the epas national pollutant discharge elimination system npdes. Amendment to the federal water pollution control act of 1972 research paper directions. The epa initiated this action on may 6, 1977, against the city and the dwsd, alleging violations of the clean water act. Clean water rule and the 1977 regulations the agencies want to repromulgate each defines the waters of the united states protected by the clean water act.
The clean water act is a 1977 amendment to the federal water pollution control act of 1972, which set the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants to waters of the united states. Originally enacted in 1948, it was totally revised by amendments in 1972 that gave the act its current shape. Prior to the enactment of the clean water act of 1977, epa withheld approval of state npdes authority over federal facilities because federal law precluded states from issuing permits to federal agencies. Clean water act of 1977 research paper clean water act of. However, to provide an acquaintanceship with its purposes and provisions generally, the titles of subchapters are listed and some sections are presented. Some of these pollutants controlled by the clean water act of 1977 include. Established the basic structure for regulating pollutant discharges into the waters of the united states. The clean water act of 1977 as swans drift with the current on a secluded lake in upper canada they think not of the water they are in but of dreams of the past and wants for the future. An overview of the 1977 clean water act amendments from environment reporter note. Municipal wastewater treatment construction grants amendments. It is a national amendment and the functions of the clean water act of 1977 are. In promulgating the clean water rule the agencies considered an extensive factual record and legal precedent, and applied. It served as a major revision of the federal water pollution control act of. The clean water act cwa is the primary federal statute regulating the protection of the nations waters.
California reqional water resources control board, sa n. Amendments to title i amends the federal water pollution control act the clean water act to authorize appropriations for fy 1983 through 1990 for. Science, politics, law, and the arc of the clean water act. An act to provide for water pollution control activities in the public health. Oct 10, 2016 the clean water act of 1977 controlled the environmental protection agency, and made them enforce these rules on the public, and the many industrial corporations that contributed to this pollution. Attorney generals of new york, california, maine, maryland. Titleclean water act of 1977 which may be cited as the federal water pollution control act. On the other hand, seals off the coast of northern california fear for their lives every day of humans exploiting their natural habitat. The cwa outlawed the discharge of any pollutant from a point source into navigable waters unless a permit was obtained. This act this chapter may be cited as the federal water pollution control act commonly referred to as the clean water act. Watershed academy web introduction to the clean water act. This act also created a major public work financing program for the municipal sewage treatment. Development of a best management practices program as part of the state areawide planning program 33 u. The clean water act cwa establishes the basic structure for regulating.
Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Cwa of 1977 this act was thought of in 1972 and officially amended in 1977. Clean water act became the act s common name with amendments in 1977. Sep 20, 2012 in 1948 and was called the federal water pollution control act, but the act was significantly reorganized and expanded in 1972.
Clean water act of 1977 legislative history this link opens in a new window this takes you to an advanced search form in lexis advance that allows you to search through a cis prepared legislative history on the cwa of 1977. Originally enacted in 1948, it was totally revised by amendments in 1972 that gave the act its current dimensions. 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. Over the years, many other laws have changed parts of the clean water act.
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