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The effluent guidelines program works closely with other offices within EPA during the development of regulations and during the planning process.
- Analytical Methods
- Compliance
- Cooling Water Intake Regulations
- Design for the Environment
- Permits
- Technology
- Uniform National Discharge Standards
- Voluntary Programs
Analytical Methods
EPA publishes laboratory test methods that are used by industry and by permitting authorities to determine compliance. The Analytical Methods program is a critical component of effluent guideline development.
Compliance
Our compliance and enforcement program monitors compliance with effluent guidelines and other Agency regulations with the help of states and tribes and takes enforcement actions when necessary.
Cooling Water Intake Regulations
Section 316(b) of the Clean Water Act requires that the location, design, construction and capacity of cooling water intake structures reflect the best technology available for minimizing adverse environmental impact. The 316(b) regulations are technology-based and apply to industrial dischargers.
Design for the Environment (DfE)
The Design for the Environment program is one of EPA's premier partnership programs, working with individual industry sectors to compare and improve the performance and human health and environmental risks and costs of existing and alternative products, processes, and practices. DfE partnership projects promote integrating cleaner, cheaper, and smarter solutions into everyday business practices.
Permits
Permit writers often utilize technology-based limits, water quality standards, and best professional judgment when regulating wastewater discharges. Direct dischargers are permitted under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program. Indirect dischargers are regulated under the Pretreatment program.
Technology
EPA's Environmental Technology Verification program develops testing protocols and verifies the performance of innovative technologies that have the potential to improve protection of human health and the environment. ETV was created to accelerate the entrance of new environmental technologies into the domestic and international marketplace. ETV is also verifying monitoring and treatment technologies relevant for water security.
Uniform National Discharge Standards (UNDS)
UNDS is a joint Environmental Protection Agency/Department of Defense rule which applies to discharges incidental to the normal operation of Armed Forces vessels and determines which of these discharges the Armed Forces will be required to control and which discharges will not require controls. It also establishes the mechanism by which States can petition EPA and DOD to review whether or not a discharge should require controls and the processes EPA and States must follow to establish no-discharge zones.
Voluntary Programs
EPA offers a number of voluntary pollution reduction programs, such as the National Performance Track program. Performance Track is a public/private partnership recognizing top environmental performance among participating U.S. facilities of all types, sizes, and complexity, public and private. Program partners are providing leadership in many areas, including preventing pollution at its source.