![[logo] US EPA](http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
Compliance and Enforcement Quick Finder
- CAED Home
- Animal Feed Lots
- Compliance Assistance
- Corrective Action
- Drinking Water
- Federal Facilities
- Inspections
- Offshore Oil and Gas
- Partnership Programs
- Performance Track
- Pollution Prevention
- Publications
- Refrigerants
- Storm Water Enforcement
- Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs)
- More...
Section 301(a) of the Clean Water Act
Except as in compliance with this section and sections 302, 306, 307, 318, 402, and 404 of this Act, the discharge of any pollutant by any person shall be unlawful. [33 USC 1311]
In lay terms, the above section of the CWA requires that point source discharges of pollutants to waters of the United States have an NPDES permit. There are a few exceptions, with the major exception being agricultural runoff [see 40 CFR 122.2 "point source"; 40 CFR 122.3(e) and (f); and 40 CFR 122.26(a)(1)(v)]