What are the provisions of the Clean Water Act?
The CWA made it unlawful to discharge any pollutant from a point source into navigable waters, unless a permit was obtained: EPA’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program controls discharges. Point sources are discrete conveyances such as pipes or man-made ditches.
What does the Clean Air Act cover?
The Clean Air Act (CAA) (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.) is a comprehensive Federal law that regulates all sources of air emissions. The 1970 CAA authorized the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to protect public health and the environment.
What is the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act?
The EPA was initially charged with the administration of the Clean Air Act (1970), enacted to abate air pollution primarily from industries and motor vehicles; the Federal Environmental Pesticide Control Act (1972); and the Clean Water Act (1972), regulating municipal and industrial wastewater discharges and offering …
What is Section 404 of the Clean Water Act?
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.
What category of pollutants is regulated by the Clean Water Act?
Three broad categories of pollutants are identified in the guidelines: conventional, toxic, and non-conventional, which are described below. The level of required discharge control is dependent on the category of the pollutant.
Does the Clean Air Act work?
The Clean Air Act has proven a remarkable success. In its first 20 years, more than 200,000 premature deaths and 18 million cases of respiratory illness in children were prevented. There is more that needs to be done to fulfill the Clean Air Act’s promise.
What happens if you violate the Clean Water Act?
Penalty: Misdemeanor level offenses with maximum 1 year imprisonment and/or fines of up $100,000 for individuals and $200,000 for corporations (see alternative Fines Act 18 U.S.C. 3571).
Who are the enforcers of clean air laws in Texas?
Called by the Houston Chronicle one of the “toughest enforcers of clean-air laws in Texas,” Environment Texas is taking a powerful stand against Texas’ biggest air polluters.winning real results for clean air.
How does Environment Texas clean up the air?
Combining research, organizing of citizens and local elected officials, and litigation has cleaned up the air before and will again. Backed by our members, Environment Texas is standing up to ExxonMobil and other polluters, pressing regulators to act, and taking legal action.
How often are petrochemical companies violating Clean Air laws?
Houston-area petrochemical facilities violated clean air laws at least 405 times in 2015, illegally releasing 5 million pounds of pollution, including chemicals linked to asthma and cancer. Backed by our members, Environment Texas is standing up to the polluters and demanding they follow the law and stop polluting our air.
Why is air quality so bad in Texas?
Texas’ air quality is a major detriment to our quality of life and physical health. Poor air quality puts the most vulnerable among us, like children and seniors, at risk for asthma, strokes, and other illnesses.