Title 33 — Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-73not60
§1345 Disposal or Use of Sewage Sludge
Title 33 › Chapter 26— WATER POLLUTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL › Subchapter IV— PERMITS AND LICENSES › § 1345
Summary
You cannot dispose of sewage sludge from a sewage treatment plant in a way that would let pollutants get into navigable waters unless you have a permit from the Administrator under section 1342. The Administrator must make rules for those permits and must apply the same criteria and procedures used for other clean water permits. A State can run its own permit program if it follows section 1342. Within one year after December 27, 1977, the Administrator had to publish guidelines saying how sludge can be used or thrown away, what to consider for each use, and what pollutant levels hurt those uses. By November 30, 1986 the Administrator had to list toxic pollutants that might be in sludge and propose management rules and numeric limits, and finalize those rules by August 31, 1987. A second list had to be proposed by July 31, 1987 and finalized by June 15, 1988. Rules must be reviewed at least every two years. People must follow new rules within 12 months, or within two years if new pollution control facilities are needed. If a numeric limit is not possible, the Administrator may set design, equipment, or operation rules instead. Before the final rules, the Administrator must add permit limits or other measures to protect health. Local authorities decide how to dispose of sludge, but anyone using sludge in ways covered by the rules must follow them. The Administrator can issue permits where needed, run studies and demonstrations, give grants, share information, and Congress allowed up to $5,000,000 for those projects for fiscal years after September 30, 1986.
Full Legal Text
Title 33, §1345
Navigation and Navigable Waters — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter or of any other law, in any case where the disposal of sewage sludge resulting from the operation of a treatment works as defined in section 1292 of this title (including the removal of in-place sewage sludge from one location and its deposit at another location) would result in any pollutant from such sewage sludge entering the navigable waters, such disposal is prohibited except in accordance with a permit issued by the Administrator under section 1342 of this title.
(b)The Administrator shall issue regulations governing the issuance of permits for the disposal of sewage sludge subject to subsection (a) of this section and section 1342 of this title. Such regulations shall require the application to such disposal of each criterion, factor, procedure, and requirement applicable to a permit issued under section 1342 of this title.
(c)Each State desiring to administer its own permit program for disposal of sewage sludge subject to subsection (a) of this section within its jurisdiction may do so in accordance with section 1342 of this title.
(d)(1)The Administrator, after consultation with appropriate Federal and State agencies and other interested persons, shall develop and publish, within one year after December 27, 1977, and from time to time thereafter, regulations providing guidelines for the disposal of sludge and the utilization of sludge for various purposes. Such regulations shall—
(A)identify uses for sludge, including disposal;
(B)specify factors to be taken into account in determining the measures and practices applicable to each such use or disposal (including publication of information on costs);
(C)identify concentrations of pollutants which interfere with each such use or disposal.
(2)(A)(i)Not later than November 30, 1986, the Administrator shall identify those toxic pollutants which, on the basis of available information on their toxicity, persistence, concentration, mobility, or potential for exposure, may be present in sewage sludge in concentrations which may adversely affect public health or the environment, and propose regulations specifying acceptable management practices for sewage sludge containing each such toxic pollutant and establishing numerical limitations for each such pollutant for each use identified under paragraph (1)(A).
(ii)Not later than August 31, 1987, and after opportunity for public hearing, the Administrator shall promulgate the regulations required by subparagraph (A)(i).
(B)(i)Not later than July 31, 1987, the Administrator shall identify those toxic pollutants not identified under subparagraph (A)(i) which may be present in sewage sludge in concentrations which may adversely affect public health or the environment, and propose regulations specifying acceptable management practices for sewage sludge containing each such toxic pollutant and establishing numerical limitations for each pollutant for each such use identified under paragraph (1)(A).
(ii)Not later than June 15, 1988, the Administrator shall promulgate the regulations required by subparagraph (B)(i).
(C)From time to time, but not less often than every 2 years, the Administrator shall review the regulations promulgated under this paragraph for the purpose of identifying additional toxic pollutants and promulgating regulations for such pollutants consistent with the requirements of this paragraph.
(D)The management practices and numerical criteria established under subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) shall be adequate to protect public health and the environment from any reasonably anticipated adverse effects of each pollutant. Such regulations shall require compliance as expeditiously as practicable but in no case later than 12 months after their publication, unless such regulations require the construction of new pollution control facilities, in which case the regulations shall require compliance as expeditiously as practicable but in no case later than two years from the date of their publication.
(3)For purposes of this subsection, if, in the judgment of the Administrator, it is not feasible to prescribe or enforce a numerical limitation for a pollutant identified under paragraph (2), the Administrator may instead promulgate a design, equipment, management practice, or operational standard, or combination thereof, which in the Administrator’s judgment is adequate to protect public health and the environment from any reasonably anticipated adverse effects of such pollutant. In the event the Administrator promulgates a design or equipment standard under this subsection, the Administrator shall include as part of such standard such requirements as will assure the proper operation and maintenance of any such element of design or equipment.
(4)Prior to the promulgation of the regulations required by paragraph (2), the Administrator shall impose conditions in permits issued to publicly owned treatment works under section 1342 of this title or take such other measures as the Administrator deems appropriate to protect public health and the environment from any adverse effects which may occur from toxic pollutants in sewage sludge.
(5)Nothing in this section is intended to waive more stringent requirements established by this chapter or any other law.
(e)The determination of the manner of disposal or use of sludge is a local determination, except that it shall be unlawful for any person to dispose of sludge from a publicly owned treatment works or any other treatment works treating domestic sewage for any use for which regulations have been established pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, except in accordance with such regulations.
(f)(1)Any permit issued under section 1342 of this title to a publicly owned treatment works or any other treatment works treating domestic sewage shall include requirements for the use and disposal of sludge that implement the regulations established pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, unless such requirements have been included in a permit issued under the appropriate provisions of subtitle C of the Solid Waste Disposal Act [42 U.S.C. 6921 et seq.], part C of the Safe Drinking Water Act [42 U.S.C. 300h et seq.], the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 [16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq., 1447 et seq.; 33 U.S.C. 1401 et seq., 2801 et seq.], or the Clean Air Act [42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.], or under State permit programs approved by the Administrator, where the Administrator determines that such programs assure compliance with any applicable requirements of this section. Not later than December 15, 1986, the Administrator shall promulgate procedures for approval of State programs pursuant to this paragraph.
(2)In the case of a treatment works described in paragraph (1) that is not subject to section 1342 of this title and to which none of the other above listed permit programs nor approved State permit authority apply, the Administrator may issue a permit to such treatment works solely to impose requirements for the use and disposal of sludge that implement the regulations established pursuant to subsection (d) of this section. The Administrator shall include in the permit appropriate requirements to assure compliance with the regulations established pursuant to subsection (d) of this section. The Administrator shall establish procedures for issuing permits pursuant to this paragraph.
(g)(1)The Administrator is authorized to conduct or initiate scientific studies, demonstration projects, and public information and education projects which are designed to promote the safe and beneficial management or use of sewage sludge for such purposes as aiding the restoration of abandoned mine sites, conditioning soil for parks and recreation areas, agricultural and horticultural uses, and other beneficial purposes. For the purposes of carrying out this subsection, the Administrator may make grants to State water pollution control agencies, other public or nonprofit agencies, institutions, organizations, and individuals. In cooperation with other Federal departments and agencies, other public and private agencies, institutions, and organizations, the Administrator is authorized to collect and disseminate information pertaining to the safe and beneficial use of sewage sludge.
(2)For the purposes of carrying out the scientific studies, demonstration projects, and public information and education projects authorized in this section, there is authorized to be appropriated for fiscal years beginning after September 30, 1986, not to exceed $5,000,000.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Solid Waste Disposal Act, referred to in subsec. (f)(1), is title II of Pub. L. 89–272, Oct. 20, 1965, 79 Stat. 997, as amended generally by Pub. L. 94–580, § 2, Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2795. Subtitle C of the Solid Waste Disposal Act is classified generally to subchapter III (§ 6921 et seq.) of chapter 82 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 6901 of Title 42 and Tables. The Safe Drinking Water Act, referred to in subsec. (f)(1), is title XIV of act July 1, 1944, as added Dec. 16, 1974, Pub. L. 93–523, § 2(a), 88 Stat. 1660, as amended. Part C of the Act is classified generally to part C (§ 300h et seq.) of subchapter XII of chapter 6A of Title 42. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 201 of Title 42 and Tables. The Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972, referred to in subsec. (f)(1), is Pub. L. 92–532, Oct. 23, 1972, 86 Stat. 1052, which is classified generally to chapters 32 (§ 1431 et seq.) and 32A (§ 1447 et seq.) of Title 16, Conservation, and chapters 27 (§ 1401 et seq.) and 41 (§ 2801 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 1401 of this title and Tables. The Clean Air Act, referred to in subsec. (f)(1), is act July 14, 1955, ch. 360, 69 Stat. 322, which is classified generally to chapter 85 (§ 7401 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 7401 of Title 42 and Tables.
Amendments
1987—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 100–4, § 406(a), designated existing provision as par. (1), inserted heading, redesignated former pars. (1) to (3) as subpars. (A) to (C), and added pars. (2) to (5). Pub. L. 100–4, § 406(f), inserted heading “
Regulations
” and aligned par. (1) with par. (3) and subpars. (A) to (C) of par. (1) with subpar. (C) of par. (2). Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 100–4, § 406(b), amended subsec. (e) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (e) read as follows: “The determination of the manner of disposal or use of sludge is a local determination except that it shall be unlawful for the owner or operator of any publicly owned treatment works to dispose of sludge from such works for any use for which guidelines have been established pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, except in accordance with such guidelines.” Subsecs. (f), (g). Pub. L. 100–4, § 406(c), added subsecs. (f) and (g). 1977—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95–217, § 68(a), substituted “under section 1342 of this title” for “under this section”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 95–217, §§ 54(d)(1), 68(b), (c), substituted “sewage sludge subject to subsection (a) of this section and section 1342 of this title” for “sewage sludge subject to this section” and struck out “, as the Administrator determines necessary to carry out the objective of this chapter” after “permit issued under section 1342 of this title”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 95–217, §§ 54(d)(2), 68(d), substituted “disposal of sewage sludge subject to subsection (a) of this section within its jurisdiction may do so in accordance with section 1342 of this title” for “disposal of sewage sludge within its jurisdiction may do so if upon submission of such program the Administrator determines such program is adequate to carry out the objective of this chapter”. Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 95–217, § 54(d)(3), added subsecs. (d) and (e).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Removal Credits Pub. L. 100–4, title IV, § 406(e), Feb. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 73, provided that: “The part of the decision of Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, No. 84–3530 (3d. Cir. 1986), which addresses section 405(d) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act [33 U.S.C. 1345(d)] is stayed until
August 31, 1987, with respect to—“(1) those publicly owned treatment works the owner or operator of which received authority to revise pretreatment requirements under section 307(b)(1) of such Act [33 U.S.C. 1317(b)(1)] before the date of the enactment of this section [Feb. 4, 1987], and “(2) those publicly owned treatment works the owner or operator of which has submitted an application for authority to revise pretreatment requirements under such section 307(b)(1) which application is pending on such date of enactment and is approved before
August 31, 1987. The Administrator shall not authorize any other removal credits under such Act [33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.] until the Administrator issues the
Regulations
required by paragraph (2)(A)(ii) of section 405(d) of such Act, as amended by subsection (a) of this section.”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
33 U.S.C. § 1345
Title 33 — Navigation and Navigable Waters
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60