United States
Environmental Protection
\r ^1 # ^Agency
Office of Water
EPA 820-F-18-001
April 2018
Fact Sheet: Final 2016 Effluent
Guidelines Program Plan
Summary
EPA has published its Final 2016 Effluent Guidelines
Program Plan. The Plan describes EPA's Clean Water
Act rulemakings and other actions designed to
control industrial wastewater pollution.
Background
Effluent limitations guidelines and standards are
national, technology-based requirements for
controlling industrial wastewater discharges to
surface waters and into publicly owned treatment
works (also called municipal sewage treatment
plants).
Clean Water Act section 304(m) requires EPA to
biennially publish a plan for new and revised effluent
limitations guidelines, after public review and
comment. EPA typically publishes a preliminary plan
upon which the public is invited to comment, and
then publishes a final plan.
Decisions and action in the Final 2016
Effluent Guidelines Program Plan
As the Plan explains, EPA has completed all
previously identified effluent limitations guidelines
and standards rulemaking actions. In addition, the
Plan identifies one new rulemaking (and the
associated schedule) for the Steam Electric Power
Generating Point Source Category. At this time, EPA
has concluded that no other industries warrant new
or revised effluent limitations guidelines and
standards.
The Plan also announces that EPA is initiating three
new studies. The purpose of one study is to look
holistically at the management of oil and gas
extraction wastewater from onshore facilities. The
focus of this study is not to look specifically at any
one existing effluent guideline. Rather, EPA intends
to engage with stakeholders to evaluate approaches
to manage both conventional and unconventional oil
and gas extraction wastewater from onshore
facilities, including but not limited to an assessment
of technologies for facilities that treat and discharge
oil and gas extraction wastewater. EPA is also
initiating two industry-wide studies of certain
pollutants: nutrients and per- and polyfluoroalkyl
substances (PFASs). EPA's near term goal of these
studies is to identify the extent to which these
pollutants are discharged from industrial categories.
Lastly, the Plan announces that EPA is continuing its
study of the Electrical and Electronic Components
(E&EC) Point Source Category and initiating a more
detailed study of this category. The focus will be on
changes within the industry since the 1983
rulemaking, particularly as these changes pertain to
wastewater characteristics and wastewater
treatment technologies.
Where can I find more information?
You can access the Federal Register notice, the
Preliminary 2016 Plan and all supporting documents
on EPA's Effluent Guidelines Plan website at:
https://www.epa.gov/eg/effluent-guidelines-plan.
For other related information, contact Dr. Phillip M.
Flanders by phone at (202) 566-8323, or by e-mail at:
flanders.phillip@epa.gov.

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