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Under this program, promulgated in § 402 of the
Federal Water Pollution Control Act (ćClean Water Actä), any entity which
discharges pollutants into a navigable body of water must possess an NPDES
permit in order to do so. This includes public facilities such as wastewater
treatment plants as well as industrial facilities and all other point sources.
This program serves as an important tool for, in the words of the Clean
Water Act, ćrestoration and maintenance of the chemical, physical and biological
integrity of the Nationās watersä. Beginning in 1987 NPDES permits
were required for storm water discharges as well. The rationale here was
that storm water outfalls to bodies of water constitute point sources.
The EPA was the original administrator of the program,
but today most states have taken over this function. In California, the
Cal EPA State Water Resources Control Board, through the local Regional
Water Quality Control Boards, administers the program and issues NPDES
permits.
Although the content and style of any given NPDES permit
will be slightly different depending on where and when it is written, and
the length of the permit will vary depending on the type of effluent and
size of the discharger, all permits contain certain core components mandated
by the Clean Water Act. These include testing, monitoring and self reporting
requirements. NPDES permits are ćliving documentsä. They are renewed every
five years, and monitoring and/or reporting requirements may change over
the life of the permit. These changes may be determined by questions
or problems which, as determined by the local Regional Water Quality Control
Boards or the State Water Resources Control Board through research and
monitoring efforts, require investigation.
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