United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
Mail Code 4303
EPA-821-F-93-005
November, 1993
FACT SHEET
EFFLUENT GUIDELINES: PROTECTING OUR NATION'S
WATERS FROM INDUSTRIAL DISCHARGES
BACKGROUND
In 1972 Congress established, as part of the Clean Water Act, a landmark program to control
the discharge of pollutants from industries into the waters of the United States. This program, which
is administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is made up of two complementary
app.udches for ensuring the protection of our valuable water resources: technology-based effluent
guidelines and water quality-based controls.
The technology-based effluent guidelines set national standards for wastewater discharges by
regulated industries. The guidelines apply to effluent discharged by these industries, whether they
discharge directly into surface waters or indirectly into sewage treatment plants. Each guideline is
written for a specific industry and it includes limits on pollutants that are typically discharged by that
industry. The guidelines, and the pollutant levels that they contain, are based on the best technology
that is economically achievable by the regulated industry. Water quality-based controls are developed
by individual states for watersheds when more stringent measures are needed to protect water quality
in specific areas.
EPA has developed effluent guidelines for many industries, regulating over fifty industrial
categories to date. These are industries such as oil and gas extraction, iron and steel manufacturing,
and organic chemical manufacturing. Each guideline regulates conventional pollutants such as oil and
suspended solids, toxic pollutants (like lead and benzene); and nonconventional pollutants (including
many pesticides). All guidelines are developed by EPA with the help of scientists, the industries under
consideration, environmental groups, and other interested parties.
DEVELOPING GUIDELINES
Developing a guideline for an industry
is a complex process. It begins with EPA
conducting an extensive study of the industry,
its production processes, how it incorporates
pollution prevention into production
processes, how material is reused and recycled,
and the wastewater treatment technologies
that are in place in the industry. A vastamount
of information related to manufacturing
processes, production costs, waste reduction,
and pollution treatment technologies is
assessed and wastewater samples from many
facilities are analyzed to determine the kinds
and amounts of pollutants that are discharged.
After extensive analysis of all
production and process data, EPAprepares an
economic analysis to help assess the potential
impact of a guideline. This combination of
economic, engineering, and wastewater
databases enables EPA to develop guideline
options for each industrial category being
considered.
THE REGULATION PROCESS
The Clean Water Act requires EPA to
publish effluent guidelines for direct and
indirect industrial dischargers. It also provides
specific factors that EPA is to consider in
developing guidelines.
Each guideline includes specific
pollutant limits that are based on process and
treatment technology that is in use in the
industry.
* For facilities that discharge conventional
pollutants directly to surface waters, these
limits are called Best Practicable Control
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Technology (BPT) and Best Conventional
Pollutant Control Technology (BCT).
FUTURE ACTIVITIES
• For dischargers that discharge toxic and
nonconventional pollutants directly to surface
waters, these limits are called Best Available
Technology Economically Achievable (BAT).
* For new sources, these limits are called New
Source Performance Standards (NSPS).
Controls for indirect dischargers to
municipal sewage treatment systems, are
different in some aspects than those for direct
dischargers to surface water. Conventional
pollutants are considered compatible with the
operation of a municipal sewage treatment
plant; therefore, indirect dischargers are not
subject to controls for conventional pollutants.
For EPA to establish limits for toxic pollutants,
it must show that a pollutant would "pass
through" the municipal treatment system If it
will, EPA includes limits on those pollutants for
indirect dischargers.
For each regulated industry, EPA
defines the levels of pollutants that are
technically and economically achievable, and
describes how these levels can be met and at
what cost. The industry may use any
technology that allows it to meet the
performance levels established by the
guideline.
The most suitable guideline option is
published in the Federal Register as a
proposed regulation for public review and
comment. It may contain a specific request for
comments on controversial or difficult issues.
The public comment period, an integral part of
the guidelines development process, gives all
interested parties the opportunity to provide
support or opposition for the proposal and
invites them to submit constructive comments
and additional information. At the close of
the comment period, EPA evaluates ail the
comments and again reviews the alternative
options.
In some cases the comments are so
substantial that EPA decides on further study
or evaluation to assist in the final decision. If
this is the case, EPA may resludy the industry
and re-propose the regulation-following the
same procedures that were followed originally.
After consideration of the comments
and any subsequent research or analysis, the
final guideline is published as a regulation in the
Federal Register. The regulated industry
generally has three years to comply with the
new regulations.
The 1987 Amendments to the Clean
Water Act require EPA to publish a biennial
plan to review and revise existing guidelines.
It also requires EPA to develop new guidlines
for dischargers cf tcxic or nonconventional
pollutants. As wastewater treatment
technologies continue to advance, earlier
guidelines will be revised to take into account
improved treatment methods and
opportunities for pollution prevention. In
addition, national concern will focus on new
pollutants, more stringent discharge limits, and
industries not presently regulated.
EPA has developed an effective
national effluent guidelines program that is
widely recognized and used by other countries.
This program has been essential to meeting the
commitment that the Clean Water Act
represents: the protection of our nation's
water.
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