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Surface Water Permits in the Southeast

National Information

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits are one way that EPA implements the requirements of the Clean Water Act (CWA). The regulations of the CWA control the quality of industrial wastewater, sanitary wastewater (household sewage) and storm water discharged torivers, streams, lakes and other surface waters of the United States. 

All Region 4 states are authorized to issue NPDES permits. EPA's role is to review drafts of NPDES permits prepared by the states to ensure that they have been developed in accordance with state and federal laws. EPA Region 4 retains this authority to issue permits for Indian tribal lands and offshore federal waters.

Also regulated under CWA are the biosolids (sludges) that are removed from sanitary wastewater in the process of treating that water to improve its quality before discharging it into a surface water body. No states in Region 4 are authorized to implement the federal biosolids permitting program under the CWA. EPA is implementing biosolids disposal and management permitting as a self-implementing program for Region 4 states and Indian tribal lands.


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State Surface Water Permitting Information in Region 4

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For information about the contents of this page please contact Connie Kagey kagey.connie@epa.gov

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