Overview
The Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251-1387, was adopted in 1948 and, after amendment in 1972 and 1977, became commonly known as the Clean Water Act (CWA). This act provides a comprehensive system for the regulation of pollutants in the waters of the United States with the objective of restoring and maintaining the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation’s waters. The CWA operates by authorizing water quality standards for surface waters, requiring permits for point source discharges of pollutants into navigable waters, assisting with funding for construction of municipal sewage treatment plants, and planning for control of nonpoint source pollution. The Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) is the primary agency tasked with implementing and enforcing the CWA.
Note: Recently added resources are posted at the top of the applicable sections.
Major Statutes, Regulations, Case Law, and Administrative Law Decisions
- Federal Water Pollution Control Act (a/k/a Clean Water Act), 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251-1387
- EPA Clean Water Act Regulations: 40 C.F.R. §§ 104-135; 40 C.F.R. §§ 136-140; 40 C.F.R. §§ 230-238; 40 C.F.R. §§ 401-424
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Clean Water Act Regulations, 33 C.F.R. §§ 320; 323-338
- 2008 Final CAFO Regulations
- Rural Clean Water Program Regulations, 7 C.F.R. §§ 634.1-634.5
- Federal Register Rules Open for Comment
- Case Law Index for Clean Water Act
- EPA Office of Administrative Law Judges
- USDA Judicial Officer’s Decisions
National Agr Law Center Research Publications
- The Clean Water Authority Restoration Act: A Primer of Background Material (Goeringer & Rumley, 2009)
- Environmental Law: Federal Laws That Affect Agriculture – PowerPoint Presentation (Springsteen, 2009)
- How the Concept of Navigability May Determine the Rights of Landowners Along Streams (Looney, 2002)
- Federal and State Environmental Law Guide
USDA Economic Research Service Resources (ERS)
- Conservation and Environmental Policy Briefing Room
- Publications: Wetlands and Agriculture: Private Interests and Public Benefits (Heimlich et al., 1998)
- Topic: Natural Resources, Environment, and Conservation
- Publications: Water Quality
- Publications: Economics of Water Quality Protection from Nonpoint Sources: Theory and Practice (Ribaudo et al., 1999)
- Publications: Confined Animal Production and Manure Nutrients (Gollehon et al., 2001)
- Publications: Benefits of Protecting Rural Water Quality: An Empirical Analysis (Crutchfield et al., 1995)
- Agricultural Resources and Environmental Indicators
- Current Water Quality Conditions and Government Programs to Protect Water Quality (ERS)
Environmental Protection Agency Resources (EPA)
- Water
- Clean Water Act (National Agriculture Compliance Assistance Center)
- Watershed Assessment, Tracking and Environmental Benefits
- Water Quality Standards Handbook: Second Edition
- Wetlands
- Office of Water
- Impaired Waters and Total Maximum Daily Loads
- Clean Water Act Definition of Waters of the United States
- Surface and Groundwater in Agriculture
- National Agriculture Compliance Assistance Center
- EPA’s National Strategy for Agriculture
- Clean Water Act Information
- Water Quality Standards for Wetlands: National Guidance
- Nonpoint Source Pollution
- Survey of the Nation’s Lakes
- Clean Water Act Module
- Polluted Runoff (Nonpoint Source Pollution)
- CAFO Clean Water Act Record-Keeping and Reporting Requirements
- Threats to Wetlands
- Types of Wetlands
Forest Service
National Agricultural Library (NAL)
- Water Quality Information Center
- Agricultural Environmental Management
- Natural Resources and Environment
- Soil and Water Management
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
- Water Quality and Quantity
- National Water and Climate Center
- National Water Management Center
- Conservation Resource Briefs on Water, Soil, Wetlands and Energy
U.S. Geological Survey
- Water Resources of the United States
- National Water-Quality Assessment Program
- Nutrients National Synthesis Project
- Pesticide National Synthesis Project
- Water Quality and Nonpoint Pollution in Agricultural Watersheds
- Water Data for the Nation
- Pesticides in the Nation’s Streams and Ground Water (1992-2001)
Congressional Resources
- Reports on Clean Water Act (Government Accountability Office)
- CAFOs: EPA Needs More Information and a Clearly Defined Strategy to Protect Air and Water Quality from Pollutants of Concern (GAO-08-944)
Other Federal Resources
- Water Supply/Water Quality (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
- National Center for Environmental Health: Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- National Water Program (CSREES and the Land Grant System)
Additional Resources
- Clean Water Act Posts (United States Agricultural & Food Law and Policy Blog)
- Clean Water Act (Center for Integrative Toxicology, MI St. U.)
- Identifying Clean Water Act Sections by US Code Numbers (NC Div. of Water Quality)
- A Farmer’s Guide To Agriculture and Water Quality Issues (NC State U.)
- Clean Water Act Jurisdictional Handbook (Environmental Law Institute, 2007)