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Title 33, Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-110

§1312 Water Quality Related Effluent Limitations

Title 33 › CHAPTER 26 — WATER POLLUTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL › SUBCHAPTER III — STANDARDS AND ENFORCEMENT › § 1312

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Administrator must set pollution limits for a pipe or group of pipes when those discharges would keep a water body from meeting water-quality goals that protect public health, drinking water, farming, industry, fish and wildlife, and recreation. Before a new limit is made public, the Administrator must publish the proposed limit and hold a public hearing within 90 days. With the state's agreement, the Administrator can change a limit in a permit if the polluter proves at the hearing that the cost is not reasonably related to the benefits for non-toxic pollutants. For toxic pollutants, the Administrator with the state's agreement can modify limits for up to 5 years if the polluter shows the change is the most control they can afford and still makes reasonable progress toward the required water quality. Making these limits does not delay other pollution limits already set under the law.

Full Legal Text

Title 33, §1312

Navigation and Navigable Waters, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Establishment
Whenever, in the judgment of the Administrator or as identified under section 1314(l) of this title, discharges of pollutants from a point source or group of point sources, with the application of effluent limitations required under section 1311(b)(2) of this title, would interfere with the attainment or maintenance of that water quality in a specific portion of the navigable waters which shall assure protection of public health, public water supplies, agricultural and industrial uses, and the protection and propagation of a balanced population of shellfish, fish and wildlife, and allow recreational activities in and on the water, effluent limitations (including alternative effluent control strategies) for such point source or sources shall be established which can reasonably be expected to contribute to the attainment or maintenance of such water quality.
(b)Modifications of effluent limitations
(1)Notice and hearing
Prior to establishment of any effluent limitation pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the Administrator shall publish such proposed limitation and within 90 days of such publication hold a public hearing.
(2)Permits
(A)No reasonable relationship
The Administrator, with the concurrence of the State, may issue a permit which modifies the effluent limitations required by subsection (a) of this section for pollutants other than toxic pollutants if the applicant demonstrates at such hearing that (whether or not technology or other alternative control strategies are available) there is no reasonable relationship between the economic and social costs and the benefits to be obtained (including attainment of the objective of this chapter) from achieving such limitation.
(B)Reasonable progress
The Administrator, with the concurrence of the State, may issue a permit which modifies the effluent limitations required by subsection (a) of this section for toxic pollutants for a single period not to exceed 5 years if the applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Administrator that such modified requirements (i) will represent the maximum degree of control within the economic capability of the owner and operator of the source, and (ii) will result in reasonable further progress beyond the requirements of section 1311(b)(2) of this title toward the requirements of subsection (a) of this section.
(c)Delay in application of other limitations
The establishment of effluent limitations under this section shall not operate to delay the application of any effluent limitation established under section 1311 of this title.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1987—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–4, § 308(e)(2), inserted “or as identified under section 1314(l) of this title” after “Administrator” and “public health,” after “protection of”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 100–4, § 308(e)(1), amended subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (b) read as follows: “(1) Prior to establishment of any effluent limitation pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the Administrator shall issue notice of intent to establish such limitation and within ninety days of such notice hold a public hearing to determine the relationship of the economic and social costs of achieving any such limitation or limitations, including any economic or social dislocation in the affected community or communities, to the social and economic benefits to be obtained (including the attainment of the objective of this chapter) and to determine whether or not such effluent limitations can be implemented with available technology or other alternative control strategies. “(2) If a person affected by such limitation demonstrates at such hearing that (whether or not such technology or other alternative control strategies are available) there is no reasonable relationship between the economic and social costs and the benefits to be obtained (including attainment of the objective of this chapter), such limitation shall not become effective and the Administrator shall adjust such limitation as it applies to such person.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

33 U.S.C. § 1312

Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110