Search Results for keywords:"Clean Water Act"

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the release of the Preliminary Effluent Guidelines Program Plan 16. This plan reviews and discusses potential updates to guidelines and standards for managing water pollution from industries. The public is invited to comment on various aspects of the plan, including industrial rankings, review findings, and new studies by January 17, 2025. The EPA aims to enhance its planning and analysis tools through this input.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission received an application from the California Department of Water Resources and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power on January 29, 2021. This application seeks a water quality certification under the Clean Water Act from the California State Water Resources Control Board. The California Water Board has one year to act on this request; if they do not respond by January 29, 2022, their authority to certify is considered waived. This notification is a procedural matter ensuring the Commission and relevant bodies are informed about the certification timeline.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 announced a Revised Designation Decision requiring that stormwater discharges from the Los Alamos Urban Area and Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico get permit coverage under the Clean Water Act. These areas are contributing to violations of New Mexico's water quality standards. This decision responds to a petition by Amigos Bravos and revises a previous ruling that was sent back for reconsideration by a court. The revised documentation and supplementary information are available online for review.

The Department of Justice has lodged a proposed Consent Decree with the court to settle claims against American Zinc Recycling Corp. for environmental law violations at their facility in Palmerton, Pennsylvania. These claims involve federal laws such as the Clean Air Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Clean Water Act, and Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, along with several Pennsylvania state laws. Under the Consent Decree, the company must implement new pollution control measures and pay a $3.3 million penalty, split between the U.S. and Pennsylvania. There is a public comment period on the Consent Decree, during which the document can be reviewed online or requested by mail.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request titled "Water Quality Standards Regulation" to the Office of Management and Budget for review. This request, referred to as an extension, is tied to standards aimed at protecting water quality in the United States. The public is invited to submit comments until March 31, 2025. The collection involves various entities, including states, territories, and Tribes, and is estimated to take about 493,362 hours annually, costing around $25 million in labor and operational expenses.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has extended the comment period for a draft risk assessment concerning Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) in sewage sludge. Initially published on January 15, 2025, the public now has until August 14, 2025, to submit their comments. This extension grants additional time for stakeholders to review the document, which evaluates potential health and environmental risks related to the use and disposal of sewage sludge. The assessment aims to inform potential future regulations under the Clean Water Act.

The National Wetland Plant List (NWPL) is a guide that helps determine if plant species grow in wetlands or not, which is important for various environmental regulations. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is inviting the public to comment on proposed changes to the NWPL for 2024. These changes involve updates to the wetland status of certain plant species in different regions, based on scientific research and public input. People can submit their comments and suggestions until March 31, 2025.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public comments on a proposed consent decree related to a lawsuit filed by the Delaware Riverkeeper Network. The lawsuit claims that the EPA did not timely update water quality standards for the Delaware River, as required by the Clean Water Act. The proposed consent decree would require the EPA to finalize these standards by June 30, 2025, and provide regular updates to the court. The public can submit comments until February 20, 2025, through the regulations.gov website.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public comments on the renewal of the information collection request (ICR) related to the Clean Water Act Section 404 State-Assumed Programs. This ICR is under review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and is set to expire on February 28, 2025. The document outlines the responsibilities of states and tribes in managing the Section 404 permit program, which regulates discharges into US waters. The EPA estimates that three states will administer the program during the next three years, affecting about 15,237 permit applicants, with total annual costs of approximately $6.6 million.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has received a water quality certification request from Northern States Power Company for a specific project. This request was submitted to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy on December 6, 2024. The Michigan authorities have one year, until December 6, 2025, to make a decision on this request. If no action is taken by that date, the certification will be considered waived under the Clean Water Act.