Title 33Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-73

§1375 Reports to Congress; detailed estimates and comprehensive study on costs; State estimates

Title 33 › Chapter CHAPTER 26— - WATER POLLUTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER V— - GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 1375

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Requires the EPA Administrator to send reports to Congress about how the law is being put into action. Within 90 days after each session of Congress, the Administrator must report on steps taken, progress and problems with making comprehensive, areawide, basin, and water-quality plans, research and studies, work on effluent limits and control methods, how States are doing compared to their plans, enforcement actions in the past year, and the status of State, interstate, and local pollution programs. The report must also include results of the required survey, actions under certain sections, and all reports from the Water Pollution Control Advisory Board. Requires the Administrator, working with the States, to prepare cost estimates and studies and give them to Congress. These must cover the cost to carry out the law; a biennial estimate of the cost to build all needed publicly owned treatment works nationwide and by State; the economic impact on governments of installing treatment; and a national cost analysis for treating wastewater to meet water goals. Those studies must be sent by February 10 of each odd-numbered year. A preliminary estimate was due by September 3, 1974, using State estimates from a survey form sent by January 31, 1974. By October 1, 1978 the Administrator had to report on combined sewer overflows with specific lists, analyses, and recommendations, including how many years would be needed if $5,000,000,000 were authorized each year. Within two years of December 27, 1977 the Administrator must report on coordinating water supply and wastewater plans after public hearings. By February 10, 1990 the Administrator must report on State water pollution revolving funds, including an inventory of facilities in significant noncompliance, the cost to fix them, funds available through September 30, 1999, and assessments of fund operations, loans, user charges, and project efficiency.

Full Legal Text

Title 33, §1375

Navigation and Navigable Waters — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Within ninety days following the convening of each session of Congress, the Administrator shall submit to the Congress a report, in addition to any other report required by this chapter, on measures taken toward implementing the objective of this chapter, including, but not limited to, (1) the progress and problems associated with developing comprehensive plans under section 1252 of this title, areawide plans under section 1288 of this title, basin plans under section 1289 of this title, and plans under section 1313(e) of this title; (2) a summary of actions taken and results achieved in the field of water pollution control research, experiments, studies, and related matters by the Administrator and other Federal agencies and by other persons and agencies under Federal grants or contracts; (3) the progress and problems associated with the development of effluent limitations and recommended control techniques; (4) the status of State programs,including a detailed summary of the progress obtained as compared to that planned under State program plans for development and enforcement of water quality requirements; (5) the identification and status of enforcement actions pending or completed under this chapter during the preceding year; (6) the status of State, interstate, and local pollution control programs established pursuant to, and assisted by, this chapter; (7) a summary of the results of the survey required to be taken under section 1290 of this title; (8) his activities including recommendations under sections 1259 through 1261 of this title; and (9) all reports and recommendations made by the Water Pollution Control Advisory Board.
(b)(1)The Administrator, in cooperation with the States, including water pollution control agencies and other water pollution control planning agencies, shall make (A) a detailed estimate of the cost of carrying out the provisions of this chapter; (B) a detailed estimate, biennially revised, of the cost of construction of all needed publicly owned treatment works in all of the States and of the cost of construction of all needed publicly owned treatment works in each of the States; (C) a comprehensive study of the economic impact on affected units of government of the cost of installation of treatment facilities; and (D) a comprehensive analysis of the national requirements for and the cost of treating municipal, industrial, and other effluent to attain the water quality objectives as established by this chapter or applicable State law. The Administrator shall submit such detailed estimate and such comprehensive study of such cost to the Congress no later than February 10 of each odd-numbered year. Whenever the Administrator, pursuant to this subsection, requests and receives an estimate of cost from a State, he shall furnish copies of such estimate together with such detailed estimate to Congress.
(2)Notwithstanding the second sentence of paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Administrator shall make a preliminary detailed estimate called for by subparagraph (B) of such paragraph and shall submit such preliminary detailed estimate to the Congress no later than September 3, 1974. The Administrator shall require each State to prepare an estimate of cost for such State, and shall utilize the survey form EPA–1, O.M.B. No. 158–R0017, prepared for the 1973 detailed estimate, except that such estimate shall include all costs of compliance with section 1281(g)(2)(A) of this title and water quality standards established pursuant to section 1313 of this title, and all costs of treatment works as defined in section 1292(2) of this title, including all eligible costs of constructing sewage collection systems and correcting excessive infiltration or inflow and all eligible costs of correcting combined storm and sanitary sewer problems and treating storm water flows. The survey form shall be distributed by the Administrator to each State no later than January 31, 1974.
(c)The Administrator shall submit to the Congress by October 1, 1978, a report on the status of combined sewer overflows in municipal treatment works operations. The report shall include (1) the status of any projects funded under this chapter to address combined sewer overflows (2) a listing by State of combined sewer overflow needs identified in the 1977 State priority listings, (3) an estimate for each applicable municipality of the number of years necessary, assuming an annual authorization and appropriation for the construction grants program of $5,000,000,000, to correct combined sewer overflow problems, (4) an analysis using representative municipalities faced with major combined sewer overflow needs, of the annual discharges of pollutants from overflows in comparison to treated effluent discharges, (5) an analysis of the technological alternatives available to municipalities to correct major combined sewer overflow problems, and (6) any recommendations of the Administrator for legislation to address the problem of combined sewer overflows, including whether a separate authorization and grant program should be established by the Congress to address combined sewer overflows.
(d)The Administrator, in cooperation with the States, including water pollution control agencies, and other water pollution control planning agencies, and water supply and water resources agencies of the States and the United States shall submit to Congress, within two years of December 27, 1977, a report with recommendations for legislation on a program to require coordination between water supply and wastewater control plans as a condition to grants for construction of treatment works under this chapter. No such report shall be submitted except after opportunity for public hearings on such proposed report.
(e)(1)Not later than February 10, 1990, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on the financial status and operations of water pollution control revolving funds established by the States under subchapter VI of this chapter. The Administrator shall prepare such report in cooperation with the States, including water pollution control agencies and other water pollution control planning and financing agencies.
(2)The report under this subsection shall also include the following:
(A)an inventory of the facilities that are in significant noncompliance with the enforceable requirements of this chapter;
(B)an estimate of the cost of construction necessary to bring such facilities into compliance with such requirements;
(C)an assessment of the availability of sources of funds for financing such needed construction, including an estimate of the amount of funds available for providing assistance for such construction through September 30, 1999, from the water pollution control revolving funds established by the States under subchapter VI of this chapter;
(D)an assessment of the operations, loan portfolio, and loan conditions of such revolving funds;
(E)an assessment of the effect on user charges of the assistance provided by such revolving funds compared to the assistance provided with funds appropriated pursuant to section 1287 of this title; and
(F)an assessment of the efficiency of the operation and maintenance of treatment works constructed with assistance provided by such revolving funds compared to the efficiency of the operation and maintenance of treatment works constructed with assistance provided under section 1281 of this title.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2002—Subsecs. (a) to (e). Pub. L. 107–303 repealed Pub. L. 105–362, § 501(d)(1). See 1998 Amendment notes below. 1998—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–362, § 501(d)(1)(A), which directed the striking out of subsec. (a), was repealed by Pub. L. 107–303. See

Effective Date

of 2002 Amendment note below. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 105–362, § 501(d), which directed the striking out of par. (1) designation, redesignation of subpars. (A) to (D) as pars. (1) to (4), respectively, and striking out of par. (2), was repealed by Pub. L. 107–303. See

Effective Date

of 2002 Amendment note below. Subsecs. (c) to (e). Pub. L. 105–362, § 501(d)(1)(A), which directed the striking out of subsecs. (c) to (e), was repealed by Pub. L. 107–303. See

Effective Date

of 2002 Amendment note below. 1995—Subsecs. (d), (e), (g). Pub. L. 104–66 redesignated subsecs. (e) and (g) as (d) and (e), respectively, and struck out former subsec. (d) which related to status reports on the use of municipal secondary effluent and sludge for agricultural and other purposes that utilize the nutrient value of treated wastewater effluent. 1987—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 100–4 added subsec. (g). 1977—Subsecs. (c) to (e). Pub. L. 95–217 added subsecs. (c) to (e). 1974—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 93–243 designated existing paragraph as par. (1) and cls. (1) to (4) as (A) to (D), and added par. (2).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2002 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 107–303 effective Nov. 10, 1998, and Federal Water Pollution Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) to be applied and administered on and after Nov. 27, 2002, as if

Amendments

made by section 501(a)–(d) of Pub. L. 105–362 had not been enacted, see section 302(b) of Pub. L. 107–303, set out as a note under section 1254 of this title. Studies and Reports Pub. L. 100–4, title III, § 308(g), Feb. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 40, directed Administrator to conduct a water quality improvement study and report results of such study to specified Congressional committees not later than 2 years after Feb. 4, 1987. Pub. L. 100–4, title III, § 314(b), Feb. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 49, directed Secretary of the Army and Administrator to each prepare a report on

Enforcement

mechanisms and to submit the reports to Congress not later than Dec. 1, 1988. Pub. L. 100–4, title IV, § 404(c), Feb. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 69, directed Administrator to study extent to which States have adopted water quality standards in accordance with section 1313a of this title and extent to which modifications of permits issued under section 1342(a)(1)(B) of this title for the purpose of reflecting revisions of water quality standards be encouraged and to submit a report on such study to Congress not later than 2 years after Feb. 4, 1987, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 104–66, title II, § 2021(e)(1), Dec. 21, 1995, 109 Stat. 727. Pub. L. 100–4, title V, § 516, Feb. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 86, directed Administrator to conduct a study of de minimis discharges and report results of such study to specified Congressional committees not later than 1 year after Feb. 4, 1987. Pub. L. 100–4, title V, § 517, Feb. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 86, directed Administrator to conduct a study of effectiveness of innovative and alternative wastewater processes and techniques and report results of such study to specified Congressional committees not later than 1 year after Feb. 4, 1987. Pub. L. 100–4, title V, § 518, Feb. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 86, directed Administrator to conduct a study of testing procedures established under section 1314(h) of this title for analysis of pollutants and report results of such study to specified Congressional committees not later than 1 year after Feb. 4, 1987. Pub. L. 100–4, title V, § 519, Feb. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 87, directed Administrator to conduct a study of pretreatment of toxic pollutants and report results of such study to specified Congressional committees not later than 4 years after Feb. 4, 1987. Pub. L. 100–4, title V, § 520, Feb. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 87, directed Administrator, in conjunction with State and local agencies, to conduct studies of water pollution problems in aquifers and report result of such studies to Congress not later than 2 years after Feb. 4, 1987. Pub. L. 100–4, title V, § 522, Feb. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 88, directed Administrator to conduct a study on sulfide corrosion in collection and treatment systems and report results of such study to specified Congressional committees not later than 1 year after Feb. 4, 1987. Pub. L. 100–4, title V, § 523, Feb. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 89, directed Administrator to conduct a study of rainfall induced infiltration into sewer systems and report results of such study to Congress not later than 1 year after Feb. 4, 1987. Pub. L. 100–4, title V, § 524, Feb. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 89, directed Administrator to conduct a study of dam water quality and report results of such study to Congress not later than Dec. 31, 1987. Pub. L. 100–4, title V, § 525, Feb. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 89, directed Administrator to conduct a study of pollution in Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho, and the Clark Fork River and its tributaries, Idaho, Montana, and Washington, and to report to Congress findings and recommendations. Detailed Estimates, Comprehensive Study, and Comprehensive Analysis; Report to Congress not Later Than
December 31, 1982 Pub. L. 97–117, § 25, Dec. 29, 1981, 95 Stat. 1633, provided that the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency submit to the Congress, not later than
December 31, 1982, a report containing the detailed estimates, comprehensive study, and comprehensive analysis required by section 1375(b) of this title, including an estimate of the total cost and the amount of Federal funds necessary for the

Construction

of needed publicly owned treatment facilities, such report to reflect the changes made in the Federal water pollution control program by Pub. L. 97–117 [see

Short Title

of 1981 Amendment note set out under section 1251 of this title]. The Administrator was to give emphasis to the effects of the amendment made by section 2(a) of Pub. L. 97–117 [amending section 1281(g)(1) of this title] in addressing water quality needs adequately and appropriately. Study and Report to Congress by Secretary of the Interior of Financing Water Pollution Prevention, Control, and Abatement Programs Pub. L. 91–224, title I, § 109, Apr. 3, 1970, 34 Stat. 113, directed the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a full and complete investigation and study of the feasibility of all methods of financing the cost of preventing, controlling, and abating water pollution, other than methods authorized by existing law, with results of such investigation and study to be reported to Congress no later than Dec. 31, 1970, together with the recommendations of the Secretary for financing the programs for preventing, controlling, and abating water pollution for the fiscal years beginning after fiscal year 1971, including any necessary legislation. Termination of Advisory BoardsAdvisory boards in existence on Jan. 5, 1973, to terminate not later than the expiration of the 2-year period following Jan. 5, 1973, unless, in the case of a board established by the President or an officer of the Federal Government, such board is renewed by appropriate action prior to the expiration of such 2-year period, or in the case of a board established by the Congress, its duration is otherwise provided by law, see section 1001(2) and 1013 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

33 U.S.C. § 1375

Title 33Navigation and Navigable Waters

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73