What is the main purpose of the Clean Water Act CWA?

What is the main purpose of the Clean Water Act CWA?

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.

What did the Water Quality Act of 1987 do?

Directs the States to establish numerical criteria, based on EPA’s national water quality criteria, for toxic pollutants which could otherwise interfere with designated water uses. Permits a State to adopt more stringent standards for marine sanitation devices on a houseboat than those required under Federal law.

What is Section 401 of the Clean Water Act?

Section 401 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) provides states and authorized tribes with an important tool to help protect the water quality of federally regulated waters within their borders, in collaboration with federal agencies.

Why was the CWA passed?

Clean Water Act (CWA), also known as Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972, U.S. legislation enacted in 1972 to restore and maintain clean and healthy waters. The CWA was a response to increasing public concern for the environment and for the condition of the nation’s waters.

Why was the CWA amended in 1987?

The 1987 amendments authorized measures to address such pollution by directing states to develop and implement nonpoint pollution management programs (Section 319 of the act). States were encouraged to pursue groundwater protection activities as part of their overall nonpoint pollution control efforts.

What is Section 405 of the Clean Water Act?

Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 405(d)(2)(C) requires EPA to review federal sewage sludge (biosolids) standards every two years to identify additional toxic pollutants that occur in biosolids and set regulations for those pollutants if sufficient scientific evidence shows they may harm human health or the environment.

What program is established by Section 402 of the CWA?

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
Clean Water Act, Section 402: National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System.