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NPDES

Overview

The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program controls water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States. Point sources are discrete conveyances such as pipes or man-made ditches. Individual homes that are connected to a municipal system, use a septic system, or do not have a surface discharge do not need an NPDES permit; however, industrial, municipal, and other facilities must obtain permits if their discharges go directly to surface waters. EPA has authorized 46 states to issue permits directly to the discharging facilities.  The Clean Water Act (CWA) also allows tribes to issue permits, but no tribes have been authorized by EPA. In remaining states and territories, the permits are issued by an EPA Regional Office. Since its introduction in 1972, the NPDES permit program is responsible for significant improvements to our Nation's water quality.

On October 31, 2011, EPA issued a final NPDES Pesticide General Permit (PGP) for point source discharges from the application of pesticides to waters of the United States. This action was in response to a 2009 decision by the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals (National Cotton Council, et al. v. EPA) in which the court vacated EPA's 2006 Final Rule on Aquatic Pesticides and found that point source discharges of biological pesticides, and chemical pesticides that leave a residue, into waters of the U.S. were pollutants under the Clean Water Act (CWA). For addidtional information on this, goto: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.cfm?program_id=410.

Significance to Tribes

•   Protection of traditional gathering areas from pesticides discharge.

TPPC Documents

Related Documents

Related Links

• • For information on specific facilities with NPDES permits, you can visit EPA's Envirofacts Warehouse at: http://www.epa.gov/enviro/index.html.
• •For information on the compliance and enforcement status of facilities with NPDES permits, you can visit EPA's Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) at: http://www.epa-echo.gov/echo/.
• California Indian Basketweavers Association at: www.ciba.org.