Clean Water Act - Overview

Description

Participants in this workshop will learn the history of the Clean Water Act (CWA) and how it applies to Federal, State, and local governments, as well as private companies and citizens. Participants will also learn terminology associated with the Act, the case law that guided implementation, and the relationship between oversight by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and States. Lastly, participants will study important aspects of the Act, such as when 401 and 404 permits are required and the process for obtaining these permits.

Objectives

Upon completion of this workshop participants will be able to do the following:                

  • Know the important terms and definitions of the CWA (e.g., point source and nonpoint source pollutants, definition of wetlands and other waters of the U.S.).

  • Understand where, when, and how the CWA is implemented.

  • Distinguish specific roles and responsibilities of the EPA, USACE, and States in administering and regulating the CWA.

  • Know how and when to obtain 401 and 404 permits for dredging or filling of waters of the U.S.

  • Understand current issues surrounding implementation of the CWA.

Content

The basic format of the short workshop includes the following components:

  • The history and context for the CWA.

  • How waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) are defined and what impacts to waters of the U.S. are subject to regulations within the Act.

  • Effluent limits and how they are enforced, including toxic pollutants and non-point sources.

  • State oversight of the Act and Federal agencies’ responsibilities for compliance with State requirements.

  • Wetland designations and the USACE’s authorities and permitting under Section 404 of the Act.

  • State’s authorities and permitting under Section 401 of the Act.

  • Case studies that explore unique and difficult dilemmas for implementation.

 

Audience

Participants for this training generally include environmental managers, NEPA practitioners, and other subject matter experts that need a general overview and understanding of the CWA to enable integration with other environmental statues, research studies, and policy formulation.

Process

This workshop is intended to introduce environmental practitioners and managers to the CWA requirements. Case studies are presented that require thinking on the part of workshop participants.  However, an in-depth understanding of the CWA, NEPA, or related environmental statutes is not required.  For optimal learning, class size is limited to 30 participants. This one-day workshop consists of a carefully designed combination of the following components:

  • 50% Lecture

  • 20% Group Discussion

  • 30% Exercises

Materials

Participants receive the following:

  • Workshop manual of materials presented

  • Case study exercises

  • Workshop resources workbook