Opinion ID: 195693
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Clean Water Act Statutory and Regulatory Framework

Text: 5 Congress enacted the CWA to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation's waters through the reduction and eventual elimination of the discharge of pollutants into these waters. 33 U.S.C. Sec. 1251(a); Town of Norfolk v. United States Army Corps of Engineers, 968 F.2d 1438, 1445 (1st Cir.1992). Under the Act, no pollutant may be emitted into this nation's waters unless a NPDES permit is obtained. Puerto Rico Aqueduct & Sewer Authority v. U.S.E.P.A., 35 F.3d 600, 602 (1st Cir. 1994); see 33 U.S.C. Secs. 1311(a), 1342. 6 NPDES permits are issued by the EPA or, in those jurisdictions in which the EPA has authorized a state agency to administer the NPDES program, by a state agency subject to EPA review. American Petroleum Inst. v. E.P.A., 787 F.2d 965, 969 (5th Cir.1986); see 33 U.S.C. Sec. 1342. NPDES permits contain 1) effluent limitations that reflect the pollution reduction achievable by using technologically practicable controls, see 33 U.S.C. Secs. 1311(b)(1)(A), 1314(b); and 2) any more stringent pollutant release limitations necessary for the waterway receiving the pollutant to meet water quality standards. See 33 U.S.C. Secs. 1311(b)(1)(C) and 1312(a). See also American Paper Institute, Inc. v. U.S.E.P.A., 996 F.2d 346, 349 (D.C.Cir.1993). 7 Additionally, a NPDES permit for a discharge into a territorial sea or the ocean must incorporate Ocean Discharge Criteria (ODC). 33 U.S.C. Secs. 1343(a) and (c)(1). See American Petroleum Inst., 787 F.2d at 970. The EPA's ODC guidelines require it to determine, after considering a number of factors, whether a discharge will cause unreasonable degradation of the marine environment. See 40 C.F.R. Secs. 125.120-125.124. The EPA will not issue an NPDES permit where it determines that the discharge will cause an unreasonable degradation of the marine environment. See 40 C.F.R. Sec. 125.123(b)-(d). Discharges in compliance with state water quality standards shall be presumed not to cause unreasonable degradation of the marine environment, for any specific pollutants or conditions specified in the variance or the standard. 40 C.F.R. Sec. 125.122(b).