NPDES Slides
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The document provides a historical overview of water pollution legislation in the United States, culminating in the Clean Water Act of 1972. It describes the goals and key implementation aspects of the Clean Water Act, including the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting process. NPDES permits regulate point source pollution and cover toxic and priority pollutants. Permits can be individualized or general, and permit requirements vary for municipal facilities, industrial sites, and new sources. Total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) also factor into the implementation of the Clean Water Act.
NPDES Slides
- 1. A Review of the Clean Water Act and NPDES Permitting Process ES 705 Environmental Policy and Management Arloe Fontenot
- 2. Historical Background • Refuse Act of 1899 • Made it illegal, without a permit, to throw refuse into navigable waters of the United States • Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1948, amended 1956 • The 1956 Amended Federal Water Pollution Control Act is interpreted as the direct precursor to the present day Clean Water Act • Water Quality Act of 1965 • Created the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration, precursor to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) • Clean Water Act of 1972 • Initially passed after an override of President Richard Nixon’s veto • EPA created 1970 • National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) created
- 3. Goals of the Clean Water Act • Comprehensive programs for water pollution control • Outlines chain-of-command for: • Implementation of regulatory programs through permitting • Enforcement of CWA including civil penalties
- 4. Implementation Aspects of CWA • National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) – • Permitting system for Point Sources – (covers) • Toxic Pollutants • Priority Pollutants (more specific toxics, for eg. all 12 chlorinated benzene species) • Stormwater • TMDLS
- 5. Toxic Pollutants • General list consisting of known toxics • Eg. arsenic, asbestos, benzene, lead, PAHs, PCBs, vinyl chloride • Formed by consent decree in 1976
- 6. Priority Pollutants • More specific list of water pollutants • Currently 126 priority pollutants • An analytical method of analysis exists • Eg. chlorinated hydrocarbons in water (EPA Method 8121), chlorinated pesticides in water (EPA Method 508.1)
- 7. NPDES Permitting - Municipal • Municipal Facilities (POTW) - must follow Best Practical Control Technology Available (BPT) and Best Available Technology Economically Available (BAT) • Additionally must meet a biological treatment standard
- 8. NPDES Permitting - Industrial • BPT and BAT are followed • The 1987 Water Quality Act required stormwater discharges regulated by NPDES permits (municipal as well) • New Sources have more stringent discharge regulations
- 9. TMDLs • Total Maximum Daily Load – total wasteload an impaired waterway can accept • State’s job to identify impaired waterway • TMDLs include sediment, pesticides, metals, pH, dissolved oxygen
- 10. Types of NPDES Permits • Individual • Tailored to an individual facility, must contain specific information • General • Covers multiple facilities within a specific category • Eg. Oil and Gas Extraction Point Source General Permit – issued by EPA Region 6 in Dallas • NPDES permit for offshore oil and gas platforms
- 11. Conclusion • The NPDES program has proven effective in improving overall water quality • Increased emissions and discharges calls for more technology-based implementation coupled with greater enforcement in the future