Title 33, Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-102
§1370 State Authority
Title 33 › CHAPTER 26 — WATER POLLUTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL › SUBCHAPTER V — GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 1370
Summary
Unless the chapter says otherwise, states, local governments, and interstate agencies may make and enforce their own pollution limits and rules. If a federal limit or standard under this chapter is already in effect, state or local limits cannot be weaker than the federal one. Nothing here takes away a State’s rights or control over its waters, including boundary waters.
Full Legal Text
Title 33, §1370
Navigation and Navigable Waters, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Except as expressly provided in this chapter, nothing in this chapter shall (1) preclude or deny the right of any State or political subdivision thereof or interstate agency to adopt or enforce (A) any standard or limitation respecting discharges of pollutants, or (B) any requirement respecting control or abatement of pollution; except that if an effluent limitation, or other limitation, effluent standard, prohibition, pretreatment standard, or standard of performance is in effect under this chapter, such State or political subdivision or interstate agency may not adopt or enforce any effluent limitation, or other limitation, effluent standard, prohibition, pretreatment standard, or standard of performance which is less stringent than the effluent limitation, or other limitation, effluent standard, prohibition, pretreatment standard, or standard of performance under this chapter; or (2) be construed as impairing or in any manner affecting any right or jurisdiction of the States with respect to the waters (including boundary waters) of such States.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
33 U.S.C. § 1370
Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102