Watershed academy web introduction to the clean water act. 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. The clean water act has largely exempted these latter sources from regulation. 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. The clean water act also continued requirements to set water quality. Epa and the department of armys statement on the relevance of recent court rulings. As amended in 1972, the law became commonly known as the clean water act. The designated uses dus of a water body are those uses that states, territories, and authorized tribes determine the water body should be clean enough to fully support, regardless of its current condition. Originally enacted in 1948, it was totally revised by amendments in 1972 that gave the act its current shape.
Science, politics, law, and the arc of the clean water act. Section 401 of the clean water act cwa requires that an applicant for a federal license or. The 1972 passage of the clean water act cwa marked an important milestone in the. The act does not deal directly with ground water or with water quantity issues. Evolution of the meaning of waters of the united states. In many places, rivers provide drinking water and offer vibrant and fascinating backdrops for city life. Executive summary, more complete citations are available in the blueprint. The act established water quality standards for surface waters, programs regulating the discharge of industrial and municipal wastewaster, regulation of nonpoint source water pollution pollution with no single, identifiable source. Introduction to the clean water act the clean water act cwa is the cornerstone of surface water quality protection in the united states.
The statute employs a variety of regulatory and nonregulatory tools to sharply reduce direct pollutant discharges into. Its objective is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nations waters. You may need a pdf reader to view some of the files on this page. Memorandum the legislative history of section 404g1 of. Army corps of engineers the corps to issue permits for the discharge of dredged or fill material into navigable waters.
Legislative history a legal resource guide for information relating to the clean water act cwa including primary and secondary source materials, quick links, and database resources. The history of water supply and sanitation is one of a logistical challenge to provide clean water and sanitation systems since the dawn of civilization. The 1972 passage of the clean water act marked an important milestone in the. The clean water act cwa is the primary federal statute regulating the protection of the nations waters. Growing public awareness and concern for controlling water pollution led to enactment of the federal water pollution control act amendments of 1972. Oct 14, 2014 the clean water act turns 42 on saturday.
The cwa was a response to increasing public concern for the environment and for the condition of the nations waters. Growing public awareness and concern for controlling water pollution led to sweeping amendments in 1972. The clean water act targeted municipal waste treatment and industrial pollution sources, sometimes called point sources. 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. 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. The final rule became effective on august 28, 2015.
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. Section 404 of the clean water act cwa authorizes the u. Discussiondraftonhydropowerregulatorymodernization. History of the clean water act american water college. The clean water act of 1977 was meant to adjust and enhance some of the requirements of the 1972 act. Today, because of the clean water act, roughly 40%. Title i of the great lakes critical programs act of 1990, for example, put into place parts of the great lakes water quality agreement of 1978, signed by the u. Waters of the united states in the clean water act.
Acts legislative history makes it clear that congress intended the clean. The federal water pollution control act, commonly known as the clean water act was originally passed in 1948. Anne mansfield, associate director of vermont law schools environmental law center elc, and jane dantonio, elc institute administrator, saw to the countless administrative and editorial details necessary to assure both web and print. The federal water pollution control act was passed to address the concerns surrounding water pollution and contaminants. The 1972 clean water act represented a radical departure from previous federal water quality legislation. This publication is a compilation of the text of chapter 360, 84th congress. Veto of the federal water pollution control act amendments of 1972.
The act does not deal directly with ground water nor with water quantity issues. Over the years, many other laws have changed parts of the clean water act. Consequences of the clean water act and the demand for water. According to the text of the clean water act, its purpose is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nations waters. Evolution of the meaning of waters of the united states in the clean water act congressional research service 1 or more than fortyfive years, all three branches of government have struggled with how to interpret the meaning of waters of the united states in the clean water act. History of the clean water act environmental works. For more recent amendments to this law, search the thomas website of the library of congress. Clean water act permits water quality certification by the state to receive a federal permit 33 u. In this lesson, students consider how the clean water act of 1972 became a law. Water quality standards ensure the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of the states waters are maintained. History of the clean water act adapted from information found at 2.
The clean water act cwa is the primary federal law in the united states governing water. Apr 18, 2018 the history of the clean water act begins with its predecessor, the federal water pollution control act of 1948, which was the first major law to address water pollution in the united states. The clean water rule published on june 29, 2015 in the. Modernization of the clean water act is long overdue neiwpcc. When congress was debating the 1972 act, they realized that corrections would need to be made as once the law went into effect when it became clear what worked and what did not. As amended in 1977, this law became commonly known as the clean water act.
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. Cwa was enacted in 1972 in response to nationwide water pollution issues and was amended in 1977 and 1987. World vision now reaches one new person every 10 seconds with clean water. 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. Introduction to the clean water act watershed academy web. The principal law governing pollution of the nations surface waters is the federal water. Students will learn about the environmental and political climate that brought about the clean water act. Clean, accessible water for all is an essential part of the world we want to live in and there is sufficient fresh water on the planet to achieve this. It served as a major revision of the federal water pollution control act of. In june, world vision drills its 1,500th borehole well since. Clean water act became the acts common name with amendments in. However, much water pollution also comes from nonpoint pollution sources such as urban and agricultural runoff.
Introduction to the clean water act1 the clean water act cwa is the cornerstone of surface water quality protection in the united states. 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. This is especially true in fort wayne where the downtown has developed around three rivers. Water and sanitation united nations sustainable development. At least some would also agree that over the forty years of its existence, the cwa has. The clean water act cwa is the primary federal law in the united states governing water pollution. It was last amended by the public law listed in the as amended through note above and below at the bottom of each page of the pdf version and reflects. Clean water act became the act s common name with amendments in 1977. Evolution of the meaning of waters of the united states in. Congress responded to the water pollution problem described by professor hines by adopting the federal water pollution control act amendments of 1972, now known as the clean water act. Evolution of the meaning of waters of the united states in the clean water act congressional research service 2 when the corps and epa issued a rule, known as the clean water rule, which substantially redefined waters of the united states in the agencies regulations for the first time in more than. Clean air act united states house of representatives. Administered by the environmental protection agency epa, this law created a set of comprehensive water quality programs and provided some financing to.
The clean water act was passed when 60% of waterways in the us were not fishable or swimmable. The federal water pollution control act amendments of 1972 the modern clean water act established a national commitment to restore and maintain the. Nrdc urged the federal government to clear up legal uncertainties that undermined the clean water act and exposed important headwaters, streams, and wetlands to dangerous pollution. The first version of the cwa was passed in 1948 under president truman. The federal water pollution control act amendments of 1972 p. Water quality standards can be defined as specific provisions of state or federal law that are adopted to protect the public health and welfare, enhance the quality of the water, and serve the purposes of the clean water act. These assessments are derived from available statewide water monitoring data and information. The history of clean water act 404g1 which specifies those waters for which states may administer the permit program for the discharge of dredged or fill material. This is the first in our series, and its a 2parter, so stay tuned for more. However, in 1972, public awareness and concern for. The clean air act gave the federal environmental protection agency epa the power it needed to take effective action to fight environmental pollution.
Clean water act information center cwaic here you will find information about the quality of montanas rivers, streams, and lakes in relation to montanas water quality assessments. Federal water pollution control act clean water act. The evolution of the clean water act timeline timetoast. The clean water rule published on june 29, 2015 in the federal register 80 fr 37054. To celebrate well be sharing reflections on the act, talking about the fight to protect clean water, and discussing what we can all do to put drinking water first. Where water resources, infrastructure or sanitation systems were insufficient, diseases spread and people fell sick or died prematurely. An act to provide for water pollution control activities in the public health serv ice of the federal security agency and in the federal works agency, and for other purposes.
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