US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

33 U.S.C. § 1314

Information and guidelines

(a)

Criteria development and publication

(1)
The Administrator, after consultation with appropriate Federal and State agencies and other interested persons, shall develop and publish, within one year after (and from time to time thereafter revise) criteria for water quality accurately reflecting the latest scientific knowledge (A) on the kind and extent of all identifiable effects on health and welfare including, but not limited to, plankton, fish, shellfish, wildlife, plant life, shorelines, beaches, esthetics, and recreation which may be expected from the presence of pollutants in any body of water, including ground water; (B) on the concentration and dispersal of pollutants, or their byproducts, through biological, physical, and chemical processes; and (C) on the effects of pollutants on biological community diversity, productivity, and stability, including information on the factors affecting rates of eutrophication and rates of organic and inorganic sedimentation for varying types of receiving waters.
(2)
section 1313 of this title The Administrator, after consultation with appropriate Federal and State agencies and other interested persons, shall develop and publish, within one year after (and from time to time thereafter revise) information (A) on the factors necessary to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of all navigable waters, ground waters, waters of the contiguous zone, and the oceans; (B) on the factors necessary for the protection and propagation of shellfish, fish, and wildlife for classes and categories of receiving waters and to allow recreational activities in and on the water; and (C) on the measurement and classification of water quality; and (D) for the purpose of , on and the identification of pollutants suitable for maximum daily load measurement correlated with the achievement of water quality objectives.
(3)
Such criteria and information and revisions thereof shall be issued to the States and shall be published in the Federal Register and otherwise made available to the public.
(4)
The Administrator shall, within 90 days after , and from time to time thereafter, publish and revise as appropriate information identifying conventional pollutants, including but not limited to, pollutants classified as biological oxygen demanding, suspended solids, fecal coliform, and pH. The thermal component of any discharge shall not be identified as a conventional pollutant under this paragraph.
(5)
(A)
section 1311(g) of this title The Administrator, to the extent practicable before consideration of any request under and within six months after , shall develop and publish information on the factors necessary for the protection of public water supplies, and the protection and propagation of a balanced population of shellfish, fish and wildlife, and to allow recreational activities, in and on the water.
(B)
section 1311(h) of this title The Administrator, to the extent practicable before consideration of any application under and within six months after , shall develop and publish information on the factors necessary for the protection of public water supplies, and the protection and propagation of a balanced indigenous population of shellfish, fish and wildlife, and to allow recreational activities, in and on the water.
(6)
section 1311(h) of this title The Administrator shall, within three months after , and annually thereafter, for purposes of publish and revise as appropriate information identifying each water quality standard in effect under this chapter or State law, the specific pollutants associated with such water quality standard, and the particular waters to which such water quality standard applies.
(7)

Guidance to states .—

lThe Administrator, after consultation with appropriate State agencies and on the basis of criteria and information published under paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection, shall develop and publish, within 9 months after , guidance to the States on performing the identification required by subsection ()(1) of this section.
(8)

Information on water quality criteria .—

The Administrator, after consultation with appropriate State agencies and within 2 years after , shall develop and publish information on methods for establishing and measuring water quality criteria for toxic pollutants on other bases than pollutant-by-pollutant criteria, including biological monitoring and assessment methods.
(9)

Revised criteria for coastal recreation waters.—

(A)

In general .—

section 1254(v) of this titleNot later than 5 years after , after consultation and in cooperation with appropriate Federal, State, tribal, and local officials (including local health officials), the Administrator shall publish new or revised water quality criteria for pathogens and pathogen indicators (including a revised list of testing methods, as appropriate), based on the results of the studies conducted under , for the purpose of protecting human health in coastal recreation waters.
(B)

Reviews .—

Not later than the date that is 5 years after the date of publication of water quality criteria under this paragraph, and at least once every 5 years thereafter, the Administrator shall review and, as necessary, revise the water quality criteria.
(b)

Effluent limitation guidelines

For the purpose of adopting or revising effluent limitations under this chapter the Administrator shall, after consultation with appropriate Federal and State agencies and other interested persons, publish within one year of , regulations, providing guidelines for effluent limitations, and, at least annually thereafter, revise, if appropriate, such regulations. Such regulations shall—
(1)
(A)
identify, in terms of amounts of constituents and chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of pollutants, the degree of effluent reduction attainable through the application of the best practicable control technology currently available for classes and categories of point sources (other than publicly owned treatment works); and
(B)
section 1311 of this title specify factors to be taken into account in determining the control measures and practices to be applicable to point sources (other than publicly owned treatment works) within such categories or classes. Factors relating to the assessment of best practicable control technology currently available to comply with subsection (b)(1) of shall include consideration of the total cost of application of technology in relation to the effluent reduction benefits to be achieved from such application, and shall also take into account the age of equipment and facilities involved, the process employed, the engineering aspects of the application of various types of control techniques, process changes, non-water quality environmental impact (including energy requirements), and such other factors as the Administrator deems appropriate;
(2)
(A)
identify, in terms of amounts of constituents and chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of pollutants, the degree of effluent reduction attainable through the application of the best control measures and practices achievable including treatment techniques, process and procedure innovations, operating methods, and other alternatives for classes and categories of point sources (other than publicly owned treatment works); and
(B)
section 1311 of this title specify factors to be taken into account in determining the best measures and practices available to comply with subsection (b)(2) of to be applicable to any point source (other than publicly owned treatment works) within such categories or classes. Factors relating to the assessment of best available technology shall take into account the age of equipment and facilities involved, the process employed, the engineering aspects of the application of various types of control techniques, process changes, the cost of achieving such effluent reduction, non-water quality environmental impact (including energy requirements), and such other factors as the Administrator deems appropriate;
(3)
identify control measures and practices available to eliminate the discharge of pollutants from categories and classes of point sources, taking into account the cost of achieving such elimination of the discharge of pollutants; and
(4)
(A)
identify, in terms of amounts of constituents and chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of pollutants, the degree of effluent reduction attainable through the application of the best conventional pollutant control technology (including measures and practices) for classes and categories of point sources (other than publicly owned treatment works); and
(B)
section 1311(b)(2)(E) of this title specify factors to be taken into account in determining the best conventional pollutant control technology measures and practices to comply with to be applicable to any point source (other than publicly owned treatment works) within such categories or classes. Factors relating to the assessment of best conventional pollutant control technology (including measures and practices) shall include consideration of the reasonableness of the relationship between the costs of attaining a reduction in effluents and the effluent reduction benefits derived, and the comparison of the cost and level of reduction of such pollutants from the discharge from publicly owned treatment works to the cost and level of reduction of such pollutants from a class or category of industrial sources, and shall take into account the age of equipment and facilities involved, the process employed, the engineering aspects of the application of various types of control techniques, process changes, non-water quality environmental impact (including energy requirements), and such other factors as the Administrator deems appropriate.
(c)

Pollution discharge elimination procedures

section 1316 of this titleThe Administrator, after consultation, with appropriate Federal and State agencies and other interested persons, shall issue to the States and appropriate water pollution control agencies within 270 days after (and from time to time thereafter) information on the processes, procedures, or operating methods which result in the elimination or reduction of the discharge of pollutants to implement standards of performance under . Such information shall include technical and other data, including costs, as are available on alternative methods of elimination or reduction of the discharge of pollutants. Such information, and revisions thereof, shall be published in the Federal Register and otherwise shall be made available to the public.

(d)

Secondary treatment information; alternative waste treatment management techniques; innovative and alternative wastewater treatment processes; facilities deemed equivalent of secondary treatment

(1)
The Administrator, after consultation with appropriate Federal and State agencies and other interested persons, shall publish within sixty days after (and from time to time thereafter) information, in terms of amounts of constituents and chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of pollutants, on the degree of effluent reduction attainable through the application of secondary treatment.
(2)
section 1281 of this title The Administrator, after consultation with appropriate Federal and State agencies and other interested persons, shall publish within nine months after (and from time to time thereafter) information on alternative waste treatment management techniques and systems available to implement .
(3)
section 1281(g)(5) of this title The Administrator, after consultation with appropriate Federal and State agencies and other interested persons, shall promulgate within one hundred and eighty days after , guidelines for identifying and evaluating innovative and alternative wastewater treatment processes and techniques referred to in .
(4)
For the purposes of this subsection, such biological treatment facilities as oxidation ponds, lagoons, and ditches and trickling filters shall be deemed the equivalent of secondary treatment. The Administrator shall provide guidance under paragraph (1) of this subsection on design criteria for such facilities, taking into account pollutant removal efficiencies and, consistent with the objectives of this chapter, assuring that water quality will not be adversely affected by deeming such facilities as the equivalent of secondary treatment.
(e)

Best management practices for industry

section 1342 of this titleThe Administrator, after consultation with appropriate Federal and State agencies and other interested persons, may publish regulations, supplemental to any effluent limitations specified under subsections (b) and (c) of this section for a class or category of point sources, for any specific pollutant which the Administrator is charged with a duty to regulate as a toxic or hazardous pollutant under section 1317(a)(1) or 1321 of this title, to control plant site runoff, spillage or leaks, sludge or waste disposal, and drainage from raw material storage which the Administrator determines are associated with or ancillary to the industrial manufacturing or treatment process within such class or category of point sources and may contribute significant amounts of such pollutants to navigable waters. Any applicable controls established under this subsection shall be included as a requirement for the purposes of section 1311, 1312, 1316, 1317, or 1343 of this title, as the case may be, in any permit issued to a point source pursuant to .

(f)

Identification and evaluation of nonpoint sources of pollution; processes, procedures, and methods to control pollution

section 1288 of this titleThe Administrator, after consultation with appropriate Federal and State agencies and other interested persons, shall issue to appropriate Federal agencies, the States, water pollution control agencies, and agencies designated under , within one year after (and from time to time thereafter) information including (1) guidelines for identifying and evaluating the nature and extent of nonpoint sources of pollutants, and (2) processes, procedures, and methods to control pollution resulting from—
(A)
agricultural and silvicultural activities, including runoff from fields and crop and forest lands;
(B)
mining activities, including runoff and siltation from new, currently operating, and abandoned surface and underground mines;
(C)
all construction activity, including runoff from the facilities resulting from such construction;
(D)
the disposal of pollutants in wells or in subsurface excavations;
(E)
salt water intrusion resulting from reductions of fresh water flow from any cause, including extraction of ground water, irrigation, obstruction, and diversion; and
(F)
changes in the movement, flow, or circulation of any navigable waters or ground waters, including changes caused by the construction of dams, levees, channels, causeways, or flow diversion facilities.
Such information and revisions thereof shall be published in the Federal Register and otherwise made available to the public.
(g)

Guidelines for pretreatment of pollutants

(1)
section 1342 of this title For the purpose of assisting States in carrying out programs under , the Administrator shall publish, within one hundred and twenty days after , and review at least annually thereafter and, if appropriate, revise guidelines for pretreatment of pollutants which he determines are not susceptible to treatment by publicly owned treatment works. Guidelines under this subsection shall be established to control and prevent the discharge into the navigable waters, the contiguous zone, or the ocean (either directly or through publicly owned treatment works) of any pollutant which interferes with, passes through, or otherwise is incompatible with such works.
(2)
When publishing guidelines under this subsection, the Administrator shall designate the category or categories of treatment works to which the guidelines shall apply.
(h)

Test procedures guidelines

section 1341 of this titlesection 1342 of this titleThe Administrator shall, within one hundred and eighty days from , promulgate guidelines establishing test procedures for the analysis of pollutants that shall include the factors which must be provided in any certification pursuant to or permit application pursuant to .

(i)

Guidelines for monitoring, reporting, enforcement, funding, personnel, and manpower

section 1342 of this titlesection 1342 of this titleThe Administrator shall (1) within sixty days after , promulgate guidelines for the purpose of establishing uniform application forms and other minimum requirements for the acquisition of information from owners and operators of point-sources of discharge subject to any State program under , and (2) within sixty days from , promulgate guidelines establishing the minimum procedural and other elements of any State program under , which shall include:
(A)
monitoring requirements;
(B)
reporting requirements (including procedures to make information available to the public);
(C)
enforcement provisions; and
(D)
funding, personnel qualifications, and manpower requirements (including a requirement that no board or body which approves permit applications or portions thereof shall include, as a member, any person who receives, or has during the previous two years received, a significant portion of his income directly or indirectly from permit holders or applicants for a permit).
(j)

Lake restoration guidance manual

The Administrator shall, within 1 year after , and biennially thereafter, publish and disseminate a lake restoration guidance manual describing methods, procedures, and processes to guide State and local efforts to improve, restore, and enhance water quality in the Nation’s publicly owned lakes.

(k)

Agreements with Secretaries of Agriculture, Army, and the Interior to provide maximum utilization of programs to achieve and maintain water quality; transfer of funds; authorization of appropriations

(1)
section 1288 of this titlesection 1329 of this title The Administrator shall enter into agreements with the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of the Army, and the Secretary of the Interior, and the heads of such other departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the United States as the Administrator determines, to provide for the maximum utilization of other Federal laws and programs for the purpose of achieving and maintaining water quality through appropriate implementation of plans approved under and nonpoint source pollution management programs approved under .
(2)
The Administrator is authorized to transfer to the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of the Army, and the Secretary of the Interior and the heads of such other departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the United States as the Administrator determines, any funds appropriated under paragraph (3) of this subsection to supplement funds otherwise appropriated to programs authorized pursuant to any agreement under paragraph (1).
(3)
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the provisions of this subsection, $100,000,000 per fiscal year for the fiscal years 1979 through 1983 and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 1984 through 1990.
(l)

Individual control strategies for toxic pollutants

(1)

State list of navigable waters and development of strategies

Not later than 2 years after , each State shall submit to the Administrator for review, approval, and implementation under this subsection—
(A)
section 1311(b)(2) of this titlesection 1313(c)(2)(B) of this title a list of those waters within the State which after the application of effluent limitations required under cannot reasonably be anticipated to attain or maintain (i) water quality standards for such waters reviewed, revised, or adopted in accordance with , due to toxic pollutants, or (ii) that water quality which shall assure protection of public health, public water supplies, agricultural and industrial uses, and the protection and propagation of a balanced population of shellfish, fish and wildlife, and allow recreational activities in and on the water;
(B)
section 1313 of this titlesection 1317(a) of this title a list of all navigable waters in such State for which the State does not expect the applicable standard under will be achieved after the requirements of sections 1311(b), 1316, and 1317(b) of this title are met, due entirely or substantially to discharges from point sources of any toxic pollutants listed pursuant to ;
(C)
for each segment of the navigable waters included on such lists, a determination of the specific point sources discharging any such toxic pollutant which is believed to be preventing or impairing such water quality and the amount of each such toxic pollutant discharged by each such source; and
(D)
section 1342 of this titlesection 1313(c)(2)(B) of this title for each such segment, an individual control strategy which the State determines will produce a reduction in the discharge of toxic pollutants from point sources identified by the State under this paragraph through the establishment of effluent limitations under and water quality standards under , which reduction is sufficient, in combination with existing controls on point and nonpoint sources of pollution, to achieve the applicable water quality standard as soon as possible, but not later than 3 years after the date of the establishment of such strategy.
(2)

Approval or disapproval

Not later than 120 days after the last day of the 2-year period referred to in paragraph (1), the Administrator shall approve or disapprove the control strategies submitted under paragraph (1) by any State.

(3)

Administrator’s action

If a State fails to submit control strategies in accordance with paragraph (1) or the Administrator does not approve the control strategies submitted by such State in accordance with paragraph (1), then, not later than 1 year after the last day of the period referred to in paragraph (2), the Administrator, in cooperation with such State and after notice and opportunity for public comment, shall implement the requirements of paragraph (1) in such State. In the implementation of such requirements, the Administrator shall, at a minimum, consider for listing under this subsection any navigable waters for which any person submits a petition to the Administrator for listing not later than 120 days after such last day.

(m)

Schedule for review of guidelines

(1)

Publication

Within 12 months after , and biennially thereafter, the Administrator shall publish in the Federal Register a plan which shall—
(A)
establish a schedule for the annual review and revision of promulgated effluent guidelines, in accordance with subsection (b) of this section;
(B)
section 1316 of this title identify categories of sources discharging toxic or nonconventional pollutants for which guidelines under subsection (b)(2) of this section and have not previously been published; and
(C)
establish a schedule for promulgation of effluent guidelines for categories identified in subparagraph (B), under which promulgation of such guidelines shall be no later than 4 years after , for categories identified in the first published plan or 3 years after the publication of the plan for categories identified in later published plans.
(2)

Public review

The Administrator shall provide for public review and comment on the plan prior to final publication.

June 30, 1948, ch. 758Pub. L. 92–500, § 286 Stat. 850Pub. L. 95–21791 Stat. 1587Pub. L. 97–117, § 2395 Stat. 1632Pub. L. 100–4, title I, § 101(f)101 Stat. 9Pub. L. 106–284, § 3(b)114 Stat. 871(, title III, § 304, as added , , ; amended , §§ 48–51, 62(b), , , 1588, 1598; , , ; , title III, §§ 308(a), (c), (f), 315(c), 316(e), , , 38–40, 52, 61; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Pub. L. 95–217, § 5091 Stat. 1588Pub. L. 95–217, , , provided in part that, upon the enactment of subsec. (e) of this section by and the concurrent redesignation of former subsecs. (e) to (j) of this section as (f) to (k), respectively, all references to former subsecs. (e) to (j) be changed to (f) to (k), respectively.

Amendments

Pub. L. 106–2842000—Subsec. (a)(9). added par. (9).

Pub. L. 100–4, § 308(c)1987—Subsec. (a)(7), (8). , added pars. (7) and (8).

Pub. L. 100–4, § 315(c)Subsec. (j). , amended subsec. (j) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (j) read as follows: “The Administrator shall issue information biennially on methods, procedures, and processes as may be appropriate to restore and enhance the quality of the Nation’s publicly owned freshwater lakes.”

Pub. L. 100–4, § 316(e)section 1329 of this titleSubsec. (k)(1). , inserted “and nonpoint source pollution management programs approved under ” before period at end.

Pub. L. 100–4, § 101(f)Subsec. (k)(3). , inserted “and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 1984 through 1990” after “1983”.

lPub. L. 100–4, § 308(a)lSubsec. (). , added subsec. ().

Pub. L. 100–4, § 308(f)Subsec. (m). , added subsec. (m).

Pub. L. 97–1171981—Subsec. (d)(4). added par. (4).

Pub. L. 95–217, § 48(a)1977—Subsec. (a)(4) to (6). , added pars. (4) to (6).

Pub. L. 95–217, § 48(b)Subsec. (b)(4). , added par. (4).

Pub. L. 95–217, § 49Subsec. (d)(3). , added par. (3).

Pub. L. 95–217, § 50Subsecs. (e) to (i). , added subsec. (e) and redesignated former subsecs. (e) to (h) as (f) to (i), respectively. Former subsec. (i) redesignated (j).

Pub. L. 95–217Subsec. (j). , §§ 50, 62(b), redesignated former subsec. (i) as (j) and substituted “shall issue information biennially on methods” for “shall, within 270 days after (and from time to time thereafter), issue such information on methods”. Former subsec. (j) redesignated (k).

Pub. L. 95–217Subsec. (k). , §§ 50, 51, redesignated former subsec. (j) as (k), substituted “The Administrator shall enter into agreements with the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of the Army, and the Secretary of the Interior, and the heads of such other departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the United States as the Administrator determines, to provide the maximum utilization of other Federal laws and programs” for “The Administrator shall, within six months from , enter into agreements with the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of the Army, and the Secretary of the Interior to provide for the maximum utilization of the appropriate programs authorized under other Federal law to be carried out by such Secretaries” in par. (1), made conforming amendments in par. (2), and in par. (3) authorized appropriations for fiscal years 1979 through 1983.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Review of Effluent Guidelines Promulgated Prior to

Pub. L. 95–217, § 7391 Stat. 160933 U.S.C. 1314(a)(4)33 U.S.C. 1314(b)(4), , , directed Administrator, within 90 days after , to review every effluent guideline promulgated prior to that date which was final or interim final (other than those applicable to industrial categories listed in table 2 of Committee Print Numbered 95–30 of Committee on Public Works and Transportation of House of Representatives) and which applied to those pollutants identified pursuant to and, on or before , to review every guideline applicable to industrial categories listed in such table 2, authorized Administrator, upon completion of each such review to make such adjustments in any such guidelines as may be necessary to carry out , directed Administrator to publish the results of each such review, and provided for judicial review of Administrator’s actions.

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

93 Stat. 1373section 3012(b) of Pub. L. 102–486section 719e of Title 15section 720d(f) of Title 15Enforcement functions of Secretary or other official in Department of Agriculture, insofar as they involve lands and programs under jurisdiction of that Department, relating to compliance with this chapter with respect to pre-construction, construction, and initial operation of transportation system for Canadian and Alaskan natural gas were transferred to the Federal Inspector, Office of Federal Inspector for the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System, until the first anniversary of the date of initial operation of the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System, see Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1979, §§ 102(f), 203(a), 44 F.R. 33663, 33666, , 1376, effective , set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. Office of Federal Inspector for the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System abolished and functions and authority vested in Inspector transferred to Secretary of Energy by , set out as an Abolition of Office of Federal Inspector note under , Commerce and Trade. Functions and authority vested in Secretary of Energy subsequently transferred to Federal Coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects by .

Contiguous Zone of United States

section 1331 of Title 43For extension of contiguous zone of United States, see Proc. No. 7219, set out as a note under , Public Lands.