Preliminary Effluent Guidelines Program Plan

The Preliminary Effluent Guidelines Program Plan 16 (Preliminary Plan 16) announces the EPA’s intent to conduct several new detailed studies of industrial categories.

On this page:

• Studies
• Related Actions
• Updates on Previously Announced Rulemakings
• Documents
• Additional Information

Studies

• The EPA will conduct a detailed study of the Battery Manufacturing Category (40 CFR 461) to determine the industrial processes used in electric vehicles (EV) and other types of new batteries, as well as collect information on wastewater generation, treatment and management through National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits.
• The EPA will conduct a detailed study of the Centralized Waste Treatment (CWT) Category (40 CFR 437) to collect data on industrial sources of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other potential pollutants to better understand the characteristics of discharges from CWT facilities.
• The EPA initiated a study of the wastewater generated from the oil and gas industry to evaluate whether there are affordable and available treatment technologies that can reduce the discharge of pollutants from the agricultural and wildlife water use subcategory of the existing Onshore Oil and Gas Extraction Category (40 CFR 435) Effluent Limitations Guidelines (ELG).
• The EPA will conduct a detailed study of PFAS processors to develop a more complete understanding of facilities that receive PFAS feedstocks to determine if any new or revised ELGs are appropriate.

Related Actions

The EPA is developing a generic Information Collection Request (ICR) to collect data from a subset of industries on facility operations; wastewater generation, treatment, and management; finances; and environmental impacts. The data will be used to support the Agency’s effluent guidelines annual review process as well as regulatory development. 

The EPA is continuing to gather information on the use and treatment of PFAS and associated PFAS discharges in the Textile Mills Category (40 CFR part 410). Through the POTW Influent PFAS Study, the EPA is continuing to collect nationwide data on industrial discharges of PFAS to POTWs, including categories recently reviewed. The EPA is continuing to collect data regarding discharges from the Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations Category (40 CFR part 412) and the impacts of those discharges on waters of the United States. The EPA will also continue to monitor PFAS use and discharges from the Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Category (40 CFR part 430) and airports.

Updates on Previously Announced Rulemakings

• Steam Electric Power Generating - Final Rule (May 9, 2024)
• Meat and Poultry Products - Proposed Rule (January 23, 2024)
• Organic Chemicals, Plastics and Synthetic Fibers
• Metal Finishing and Electroplating
• Landfills

Documents

• Preliminary Plan 16 - Federal Register Notice (December 18, 2024)
• Fact Sheet (pdf) (173.23 KB, December 2024)
• Preliminary Plan 16 (pdf) (688.03 KB, December 2024, EPA-821-R-24-010)
• User Guide to the Docket for Preliminary Plan 16 (pdf) (222.86 KB, January 2025)
• Previous Effluent Guidelines Plans

Additional Information

For additional information, please contact Doruntinë Rexhepi (rexhepi.doruntine@epa.gov) or 202-566-2532.  To get involved in the EPA’s planning process, help identify and review industrial wastewater discharges.