This pdf file was adapted from an online training module of the epas. True facts about the clean water act, part 1 clean water. The act does not deal directly with ground water nor with water quantity issues. An act to provide for water pollution control activities in the public health serv. First passed in 1972, the clean water act was not a new law but rather a complete overhaul of earlier legislation, the 1948 federal water pollution. Originally enacted in 1948, it was totally revised by amendments in 1972 that gave the act its current dimensions.
This version depicts the law as of november 27, 2002. 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. Clean water act permits water quality certification by the state to receive a federal permit 33 u. The term is used in the clean air act extension of 1970 caa to refer to air pollution emission standards, and in the clean water act cwa referring to standards for water pollution discharges of industrial wastewater to surface waters. The federal water pollution control act amendments of 1972 the modern clean water act established a national commitment to restore and maintain the. Clean water act, 1948 as amended 1966, 1972, section 10. The sdwa 1974 was enacted to make sure that drinking water. It served as a major revision of the federal water pollution control act of. Arranging information graphically before creating a written document.
New source performance standards nsps are pollution control standards issued by the united states environmental protection agency epa. The clean water act cwa establishes the basic structure for. 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. Sep 20, 2012 the federal water pollution control act, on june 30, 1948 clean water act became the common name with the 1972 amendments summary. Watershed academy web introduction to the clean water act. Oct 14, 2014 12 clean water act facts part 1 of 2 learn these and youll be an expert. History of the 1972 clean water act george washington journal of. Since passage in 1972, the clean water act has made great strides in protecting and restoring americas waters. 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. Module 10 chapter 20 water pollution and its prevention. Achievement of the acts overall objective to 30 restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the nations waters.
The goals of the clean water act of 1972 section 101a1 national goal. Clean water act cwa the clean water act of 1972 cwa, as amended, is the law governing most of msds operations, and is the basis for the federal consent decree. Federal water pollution control act clean water act. The federal water pollution control act, commonly known as the clean water act was originally passed in 1948. Clean water act of 1972 definition of clean water act of. Sep 08, 2016 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.
December 2002 includes scans of transcripts of hearings before the senate committee on public works, its subcommittee on air and water pollution and its subcomittee on water quality from june 2 to october 19, 1971 on legislation that resulted in the clean water act of 1972. Clean water act cwa or act establishes the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into u. Use it or lose it clean water act 101 hank graddy sierra sentinels july 10, 2017. Federal water pollution control act unt digital library. The district courts shall have jurisdiction, without regard to the amount in controversy or the citizenship of the parties, to enforce such an effluent standard or limitation, or such an order, or to order the administrator to perform such act or duty, as the case may be, and to apply any appropriate civil penalties under section 19d of this title. Its objective is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nations waters by preventing point and nonpoint pollution sources though it does not enable the control of nonpoint sources. The clean water act on october 18, 1972, the federal water pollution control act amendments of 1972 more commonly referred to as the clean water act, or cwa became law, declaring the restoration and maintenance of the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nations water a national goal. The new statute imposed a patchwork of technology based controls, water quality standards, planning requirements, compliance. Clean water act became the act s common name with amendments in 1977. Introduction to the clean water act1 the clean water act cwa is the cornerstone of surface water quality protection in the united states. True facts about the clean water act, part 1 clean water action. Clean water act became the acts common name with amendments in 1977. The statute employs a variety of regulatory and nonregulatory tools to sharply reduce direct pollutant discharges into.
Congress enacted the act to enhance the quality and value of our water resources and to establish a national policy for the prevention, control and abatement of water pollution. The 1972 passage of the clean water act marked an important milestone in the. By 1972, congress had voted on an amended version of the law that included the expansion of regulations to prevent pollution of the nations waterways. Federal water pollution control act amendments of 1972 govinfo. Amendments to title i amends the federal water pollution control act the clean water act to authorize appropriations for fy 1983 through 1990 for. At least some would also agree that over the forty years of its existence, the cwa has. The clean water act of 1972, as amended, is the law. To establish standing, the courts have required proof of.
Clean water act of 1972 grew from the1969 burning of the cuyahoga river in cleveland duration. At least some would also agree that over the forty years of. Motivated by public outrage at oil spills covering hundreds of square miles, massive fish kills due to pollution, and rivers so laden with. Citizens may only bring citizen suits in federal court if they have standing to sue. Stenographic transcripts of congressional hearings on the. Dec 02, 20 clean water act project eduardo samayoa peter bambalis hunter mason victoria hopkins benjamin beroth.
Economic implications, viewpoints and solutions for the. Since our founding during the campaign to pass the landmark clean water act in 1972, clean water action has worked to win strong health and environmental protections by bringing issue expertise, solutionoriented thinking and. Mar 17, 2014 clean water act of 1972 grew from the1969 burning of the cuyahoga river in cleveland duration. As the title suggests, this paper will trace the history of federal interventions in u. Oct 04, 20 icy act of 1969 nepa,1 the clean air act of 1970,2 and the 1972 clean water act cwa3many environmental law scholars would likely agree that the cwa was the best designed and most artfully drafted. A federal statute enacted in 1972 that has been successful in improving the water quality of lakes and rivers explanation of clean water act of 1972. Clean water act any addition of any pollutant from a point source section 502 6 the term pollutant means dredged spoil, solid waste, incinerator residue. Major amendments were enacted in 1961, 1966, 1970, 1972, 1977, and 1987.
When it comes to quality, we should really consider two types of water i. From 1963 to 1970, the senate passed a series of measures that incrementally enhanced pollution control, each adding to the edifice predecessor acts had begun to. Find out information about clean water act of 1972. Nov 27, 2002 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. Major changes have subsequently been introduced via amendatory legislation including the clean water act of 1977 and the water quality act wqa of 1987.
The clean water act cwa is the primary federal law in the united states governing water pollution. You may need a pdf reader to view some of the files on this page. Be it enacted by the senate and house of representatives of the united state8 of america in congress assembled, that this act may be cited as the federal water pollution control act. Passed in 1972 and amended in 1977 and 1987, the clean water act was originally known as the federal water pollution control act. Some nonenvironmental statutes, such as the americans with disabilities act and the fair housing amendments act, also contain citizen suit provisions, but the majority of regulatory statutes do not. The national wildlife federation advocates for preventing wetland and stream destruction and pollution through strong enforcement of the clean water act. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Jun 16, 2015 one of the main goals of the clean water act and clean water rule is to protect drinking water sources and ensure that the water supply continues to be clean and reliable in cases of rising temperatures, drought, storms increasing in severity, and sea level rise u. Legislative history clean water act legal research. An act originally passed by the federal government in 1972, and since amended several times, that gives the environmental protection agency epa responsibility for developing criteria for waterquality standards and controlling and regulating pollutants discharged into water sources.
The 1972 passage of the clean water act cwa marked an important milestone in the nations environmental history. 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. Clean water act 1972 definition it is unlawful to discharge any pollutant from a point source into navigable waters, unless a permit authorized under the cwa. Under the cwa, epa has implemented pollution control programs such as setting wastewater standards for industry. Start studying module 10 chapter 20 water pollution and its prevention. Overview of california water quality law office of chief counsel state water resources control board 2008.
Congress had tackled water pollution as early as 1899, but most legislation lacked teeth. Originally enacted in 1948, it was totally revised by amendments in. The overall goal of the cwa is to restore our nations waters to a condition that is fishable and swimmable. It provides for the maintenance of the chemical, physical and biological integrity of nations waters. In this lesson, students consider how the clean water act of 1972 became a law. 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. Clean water action is a national 501c4 environmental organization with nearly one million members. The federal water pollution control act is amended to read as follows. The clean water act cwa of 1972 is federal legislation governing water pollution. Three key reforms for federal water policy the heritage. Legislative history of the water pollution control act amendments of 1972, together with a sectionbysection index, prepared by the environmental policy division of the congressional research division of the library of congress. A summary of the law summary the principal law governing pollution of the nations surface waters is the federal water pollution control act, or clean water act. A snapshot of the clean water act provisions, as expressed in the amended law, is available in its entirety or by title from the listings below in portable document file pdf format. The cwa was a response to increasing public concern for the environment and for the condition of the nations waters.
One of the main goals of the clean water act and clean water rule is to protect drinking water sources and ensure that the water supply continues to be clean and reliable in cases of rising temperatures, drought, storms increasing in severity, and sea level rise u. Clean water act project eduardo samayoa peter bambalis hunter mason victoria hopkins benjamin beroth. Clean water act became the acts common name with amendments in 1972. Originally enacted in 1948, it was totally revised by amendments in 1972 that gave the act its current shape. The federal water pollution control act amendments of 1961 p. Clean water act cwa, also known as federal water pollution control act amendments of 1972, u. The federal water pollution control act, commonly known as the clean water act was originally passed. Public law 92500 an act to amend the federal water pollution control act. The clean water act also continued requirements to set water quality standards for.
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