United States
Environmental Protection
\r ^1 # ^Agency
Office of Water
EPA 821-F-19-002
October 2019
Fact Sheet: Preliminary Effluent
Guidelines Program Plan 14
Summary
EPA has published Preliminary Effluent Guidelines
Program Plan 14 (Preliminary Plan 14), which
describes analyses, studies, and rulemakings related
to effluent limitations guidelines and standards
(ELGs) which are national, technology-based
regulations for controlling industrial wastewater
discharges to surface waters and into publicly owned
treatment works.
Background
Clean Water Act section 304(m) requires EPA to
biennially publish a plan for new and revised ELGS,
after public review and comment. EPA publishes a
preliminary plan upon which the public is invited to
comment, and then publishes a final plan. Plan 13 -
the Final 2016 Effluent Guidelines Program Plan -
was published on May 2, 2018.
Contents of Preliminary Plan 14
Preliminary Plan 14 discusses the ongoing ELG
rulemaking and associated schedule for the Steam
Electric Power Generating Point Source Category.
EPA has concluded that no additional categories
warrant new or revised ELGs at this time.
Preliminary Plan 14 provides updates on the
Electrical and Electronic Components Category
Detailed Study, the Oil and Gas Extraction
Wastewater Management Study and the Petroleum
Refining Point Source Category Detailed Study.
Preliminary Plan 14 discusses ongoing analyses
including an analysis and ranking of nutrient
discharges in industrial discharges, and an analysis of
available data on industrial sources and discharges
of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These
efforts aim to identify the extent to which these
pollutants are discharged from industrial point
sources.
Three new activities are introduced in Preliminary
Plan 14. A new technology review process will help
EPA gather information on current industrial
wastewater treatment capabilities. A new economic
screening analysis will enable EPA to establish an
initial prioritization of industries based on economic
factors. A PFAS Multi-Industry Study is designed to
identify industrial sources of PFAS in surface waters.
Lastly, Preliminary Plan 14 provides details on
databases that EPA is developing in support of the
Effluent Guidelines Program. The Effluent Limitations
Guidelines Database will enable users to quickly,
systematically, and comprehensively query existing
ELG regulations. Additionally, EPA is continuing to
populate the Industrial Wastewater Treatment
Technology Database.
Where can I find more information?
You can access the Federal Register notice,
Preliminary Plan 14, and all supporting documents
on EPA's Effluent Guidelines Plan website at:
epa.gov/eg/preliminary-effluent-guidelines-
program-plan-14
For other related information, contact Dr. Phillip
Flanders by phone at (202) 566-8323, or by e-mail at:
flanders.phillip@epa.gov.

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