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Final Effluent Guidelines Plan for 2004/2005
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
Fact Sheet; August 2004
EPA is publishing a plan and schedule to consider developing and revising effluent guidelines. The plan itself does not establish any new requirements for any businesses. The plan announces EPA's decision to proceed with rulemakings which may lead to new requirements for facilities in four industries. These effluent regulations will improve water quality by controlling discharges from industrial sources.
- Background on Effluent Guidelines plan
- Background on Effluent Guidelines
- Summary of the 2004 plan
- Further Information
Background on Effluent Guidelines plan
EPA publishes an Effluent Guidelines Plan every other year. The Plan is required by Section 304(m) of the Clean Water Act. EPA published the preliminary Plan for public comment on December 31, 2003. The Agency received 59 comments from a variety of commenters.
Background on Effluent Guidelines
Effluent guidelines are national regulations for controlling the discharge of pollutants to surface waters and to publicly owned treatment works (POTWs). Effluent guidelines are technology-based and specific to an industry. EPA writes effluent guidelines for all types of industrial discharges -- from manufacturing, agricultural, and service industries.
The effluent guidelines program is one of EPA's most successful environmental protection programs. Effluent guidelines have helped reverse the water quality degradation that accompanied industrialization in this country. Implementation of these regulations has reduced the discharge of pollutants that have serious environmental impacts, including pollutants that:
- kill or impair fish and other aquatic organisms;
- cause human health problems through contaminated water, fish, or shellfish; and
- degrade aquatic ecosystems
EPA has already issued effluent guidelines for 56 industries. EPA estimates that these regulations have prevented the discharge of more than 690 billion pounds of pollutants each year
This notice presents the final 2004 Effluent Guidelines Program Plan, as well as a description of EPA's review process. The notice presents: (1) the results of the Agency's 2004 annual review; (2) a response to public comments received on the preliminary Plan; (3) the industrial sectors identified for effluent guidelines rulemakings; and (4) a rulemaking schedule.
The final plan identifies four industries to consider for effluent guidelines development or revision. Two industrial sectors are identified for potential revisions to existing effluent guidelines: Vinyl Chloride Manufacturing and Chlor-Alkali manufacturing. Two unregulated industrial categories are also identified: Airport Deicing Operations and Drinking Water Supply and Treatment.
For additional information concerning this action, you can contact Mr. Carey A. Johnston at (202) 566-1014 at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Engineering and Analysis Division (4303T), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C., or you can send an e-mail to johnston.carey@epa.gov.
- Federal Register notice published September 2, 2004.
- View support documents using e-dockets. Click on "Quick Search" and type in OW-2003-0074 into the search field.