§1315 State Reports on Water Quality

Summary

Each State must prepare and send a report to the Administrator by April 1, 1975, update it by April 1, 1976, and update it every two years after that. The report must describe the water quality of all navigable waters in the state during the past year, taking into account seasonal and tidal changes and comparing conditions to the law’s water-quality goals. It must say how well waters support healthy populations of shellfish, fish, and wildlife and allow swimming and other recreation; explain whether stopping pollutant discharges and reaching the law’s goals have been or will be met under the law and recommend any extra steps and which waters need them; estimate environmental effects, the economic and social costs and benefits, and a likely date for meeting the goals; and describe pollution from scattered sources (nonpoint sources) and recommend control programs with cost estimates. The Administrator must send those state reports, with an analysis, to Congress by October 1, 1975, October 1, 1976, and every two years after.