This pdf file was adapted from an online training module of the. The act does not deal directly with ground water nor with water quantity issues. Certain situations do not have to have a permit such as homes that are part of a municipal system, use a septic system, or do not discharge directly into surface waters. But we have reached an important turning point in our struggle for clean water. The amendments to the act took two years of hard work by congress to develop. The federal clean water act cwa, the primary federal authority for addressing water. Introduction to the clean water act the clean water act cwa is the cornerstone of surface water quality protection in the united states. Compartmentalized thinking and the clean water act christine a. Clean water act became the act s common name with amendments in 1977. Originally enacted in 1948, it was totally revised by amendments in. Gave epa the authority to implement pollution control programs such as setting wastewater standards for industry.
The four justices joining in the plurality opinion, as well as justice. Agency interpretaton on applicability of section 402 of. However, in 1972, public awareness and concern for. 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. While the opinion answered that question in the affinnative, amendments to the clean water act in 1977 and epas implementing regulations have. Synthesizing definitions following the clean water act of 1977. Under the cwa, epa has implemented pollution control programs such as setting wastewater standards for industry. Clean water act abstracts what is the clean water act. Clean water restoration act of 2007 united states fish.
Combining the significant nexus language from swancc with the existing regulatory. Wetland losses were estimated at about 460,000 acres per year. Originally enacted in 1948, it was totally revised by amendments in 1972 that gave the act its current dimensions. More than seventy changes were made in the existing law. Combining the concentrationmagnitude and duration components of a.
The statute employs a variety of regulatory and nonregulatory tools to sharply reduce direct pollutant discharges into. The federal water pollution control act amendments of 1972, commonly referred to as the clean water act, is one of the most important and farreaching environmental statutes ever passed by the u. The clean water act required all municipal treatment plants to have at least secondary treatment by 1977. 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. Agency interpretaton on applicability of section 402 of the. Major amendments were enacted in 1961, 1966, 1970, 1972, 1977, and 1987. It is still one of the most controversial pieces of legislation ever passed. Clean water act became the acts 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. The clean water act and best management practices u. Waters of the united states in the clean water act. The basis of the act was enacted in 1948 and was called the federal water pollution control act, but the act was significantly reorganized and expanded in 1972. Established the basic structure for regulating pollutants discharges into. Twentyfive years ago, only onethird of the nations waters were safe for fishing and swimming.
Federal water pollution control act clean water act. Oct 04, 2016 when congress debated the 1972 amendments to the federal water pollution control act, midcourse corrections were promised. 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. Clean water act became the acts common name through amendments in 1977. Fixing the broken clean water act the clean water act, despite being one of our nations most potent environmental protection laws for three decades, has an achilles heela oneword weakness that the u. The water quality standards are implemented in npdes permits through water qualitybased effluent limitations wqbels. Compartmentalized thinking and the clean water act. The federal water pollution control act as in effect immediately prior to the date of enactment of this act oct. Supreme court has expanded into an enormous loophole. Summary of the clean water amendments of 1977 from. Sometimes these names say something about the substance of the law as with the 2002 winter olympic commemorative coin act. However, industrial and municipal facilities must have a permit if their facilities are discharging into. Federal water pollution control act of 1972 the 1972 law gave epa the authority to set effluent.
The nation tackles air and water pollution sage publications. Midcourse corrections in the section 404 program wetlands have increasingly become the focal point in the epas efforts to define the jurisdiction and scope of coverage of the section 404 regulatory program. The 1972 passage of the clean water act cwa marked an important milestone in the nations environmental history. The clean water act cwa is the cornerstone of surface water quality. As amended in 1977, the law became commonly known as the clean water act cwa. Clean water act of 1977 this law makes it illegal to discharge any pollutant into navigable waters unless a permit is obtained 5 main elements under this act, epa has created pollution control programs like waste water standards for the industry. It provides for the maintenance of the chemical, physical and biological integrity of nations waters. Point sources are distinct conveyances such as pipes or manmade ditches. Established the basic structure for regulating pollutants discharges into the waters of the united states. Introduction to the clean water act and water quality regulation.
The clean water act is a water pollutioncontrol measure, which was passed as the federal water pollution control act in 1972. Its objective is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nations waters. The evolution of the clean water act timeline timetoast. The act does not deal directly with ground water or with water quantity issues. 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. Introduction to the clean water act watershed academy. Development of the clean water act and the npdes program of the factors that states must consider in the development of their water quality standards. Water act required all municipal treatment plants to have at least secondary treatment by 1977.
Clean water act effects, important, system, source, marine. 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. Klein, compartmentalized thinking and the clean water act, 4 geo. Originally enacted in 1948, it was totally revised by amendments in 1972 that gave the act its current shape. Some states have chosen to develop ground water quality standards mentioned in slide 6 or water quality standards that.
Administrator deputy administrator assistant administrators office directors regional administrators attached is a surnnary of the clean water act of 1977, p. The clean water act cwa of 1972 is federal legislation governing water pollution. The united states code is meant to be an organized, logical compilation of the laws passed by congress. The clean water act 1977,1981,1987 by madison paige on prezi. Introduction to the clean water act1 the clean water act cwa is the cornerstone of surface water quality protection in the united states. Cover photos courtesy southern california coastal water research project sccwrp. Since the passage of the 1977 amendments, the statute became known as the. Laws acquire popular names as they make their way through congress.
Federal clean water act passed in 1972, and amended in 1977 key concepts. 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. The 1972 passage of the clean water act cwa marked an important milestone in the nations. The federal water pollution control act was passed to address the concerns surrounding water pollution and contaminants.
Watershed academy web introduction to the clean water act. Clean air act of 1970 and the federal water pollution control act of 1972, commonly known as the clean water act. Even without the hedonic estimates of the next section, one can combine costeffectiveness numbers with. Motivated by public outrage at oil spills covering hundreds of square miles, massive fish kills due to pollution, and rivers so laden with pollutants that they. The cwa was a response to increasing public concern for the environment and for the condition of the nations waters. The court says that congress showed intent in the clean water act to extend jurisdiction as broadly as possible under the commerce clause of the constitution, which allows the government to regulate activities that affect interstate commerce. Cwa of 1977 this act was thought of in 1972 and officially amended in 1977.
The clean water act consists of sections numbered 1 through 78, nearly all. The clean water act cwa, enacted on october 18, 1972, brought forth many changes in management. Introduction to the clean water act and water quality regulation tracy hester environmental law fall 20 october 14, 20. The clean water act cwa as we know it has a longer history than you might think. Passed senate amended 10271981 measure passed senate, amended 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. The clean water act cwa is the primary federal law in the united states governing water pollution. 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. It served as a major revision of the federal water pollution control act of. Introduction to the clean water act and water quality. Indefinitely postponed in senate 0804 1977 measure indefinitely postponed in senate, h. Consequences of the clean water act and the demand for water.
History of the clean water act american water college. 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 cwa establishes the basic structure for regulating. The cwas goal is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nations waters. The clean water act consists of sections numbered 1 through 78, nearly all of which amend specific sections of the fwpca. The cwa outlawed the discharge of any pollutant from a point source into navigable waters unless a permit was obtained. You may need a pdf reader to view some of the files on this page. An original bill to amend the federal water pollution control act amendments of 1972. The clean water act of 1977 reflects a broad congressional consensus that the 1972 legislation was essentially sound, and that with appropriate fine tuning it should be continued without interruption. The first version of the cwa was passed in 1948 under president truman.
The federal water pollution control act amendments of 1961 p. Appendix a federal clean water act, section 303d 303d1a each state shall identify those waters within its boundaries for which the effluent limitations required by section 301b1a and section 301b1b are not stringent enough to implement any water quality standard applicable to such waters. The change in the value of housing is estimated by combining the regression. It is a national amendment and the functions of the clean water act of 1977 are. The 1977 clean water act continues the national goal of eliminating the discharge of pollutants into our water. When congress debated the 1972 amendments to the federal water pollution control act, midcourse corrections were promised.
Indefinitely postponed in senate 08041977 measure indefinitely postponed in senate, h. Clean water act some history deteriorating water conditions until nadir during early 20th century and world war ii viewed as a public health concern chorination state regulation by 1930s, but weak dramatic water pollution problems in urban rivers and lakes 1965 federal water quality act. The meaning of the 1977 clean water act about epa us epa. The federal water pollution control act amendments of 1972 the modern clean water act established a national commitment to restore and maintain the. The modern clean water act has its origins in the federal water pollution control act amendments of 1972. The clean water act, despite being one of our nations most potent environmental protection laws for three decades, has an achilles heela oneword weakness that the u. Born from a river of fire, the act has undergone many changes over the years and likely faces many more. Clean water act became the act s common name through amendments in 1977. The united states code is meant to be an organized, logical compilation of the laws passed. In 1972, in response to growing public concern about serious and widespread water pollution, congress passed the clean water act to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nations waters. Clayton barnett cwa of 1977 this act was thought of in 1972 and officially amended in 1977. Clean water act the federal water pollution control act amendments of 1972, commonly referred to as the clean water act, is one of the most important and farreaching environmental statutes ever passed by the u. The clean water act cwa passed in 1977 and acts as an amendment to the federal water pollution control act of 1972. 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.