§1362 Definitions

Summary

Defines common words used in the chapter about water pollution control. State water pollution control agency — the state agency the Governor names to enforce state pollution laws. Interstate agency — a joint agency of two or more States set up under an agreement or compact approved by Congress, or another multi‑State body the Administrator approves, that has major pollution control duties. State — includes each State, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Municipality — a city, town, county, parish, district, public body or similar entity that handles sewage or waste, or an Indian tribe, tribal organization, or an approved management agency. Person — an individual, company, partnership, association, State or local government body, commission, political subdivision, or interstate body. Pollutant — many kinds of waste and harmful materials (like sewage, chemical wastes, radioactive materials, heat, and similar discharges) but not sewage from vessels covered by the law about vessel discharges or certain oil/gas well injections that a State has approved and found will not harm water. Navigable waters — the waters of the United States, including the territorial seas. Territorial seas — the coastal sea belt measured from the ordinary low water line out to three miles. Contiguous zone — the zone the United States establishes under article 24 of the Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone Convention. Ocean — the high seas beyond the contiguous zone. Effluent limitation — limits set by a State or the Administrator on amounts, rates, or concentrations of pollutants coming from point sources, including compliance schedules. Discharge of a pollutant(s) — adding any pollutant to navigable waters from a point source, or adding pollutants to the contiguous zone or ocean from a point source (except from vessels). Toxic pollutant — pollutants (including disease agents) that, based on available information, can cause death, disease, cancer, genetic or reproductive harm, behavioral or other serious biological problems. Point source — any clear, confined way pollutants can be discharged (like pipes, ditches, containers, certain animal feeding operations, vessels), but not agricultural stormwater discharges or return flows from irrigated agriculture. Biological monitoring — testing aquatic life and tissues to see the effects of discharges using proper sampling methods, places, and times. Discharge — includes discharges of a pollutant(s). Schedule of compliance — a timetable of enforceable steps to meet pollution limits or standards. Industrial user — manufacturing industries listed in the 1967 Standard Industrial Classification Manual (Division D) and other large waste producers the Administrator names. Pollution — human-caused changes to the chemical, physical, biological, or radiological quality of water. Medical waste — types of infectious or medical garbage (like isolation wastes, blood, sharps, body parts, contaminated bedding, surgical and lab wastes, dialysis wastes) and other medical items the Administrator may add. Coastal recreation waters — the Great Lakes and marine coastal waters that a State designates for swimming and similar activities; does not include inland waters or waters upstream of a river mouth that still connects naturally to the sea. Floatable material — things that float or stay suspended in water, such as plastic, aluminum cans, wood, bottles, and paper products. Pathogen indicator — a substance that shows a risk of human infectious disease. Oil and gas exploration/production operations or transmission facilities — all field work linked to exploration, production, processing, treatment, or transmission, including site prep and moving drilling equipment. Recreational vessel — a boat made or used mainly for pleasure, or rented for pleasure; does not include Coast Guard‑inspected vessels used for commercial work or carrying paying passengers. Treatment works — has the meaning given elsewhere in the law for wastewater treatment systems. Green infrastructure — methods using plants, soil, permeable surfaces, stormwater reuse, or landscaping to store, soak in, or evaporate stormwater and reduce flows to sewers or surface waters.