More Effective Action by the Environmental Protection Agency Needed To Enforce Industrial Compliance With Water Pollution Control Discharge Permits

In a comprehensive effort to clean up the nation's waterways, either the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or states with EPA-approved programs issue permits to both industrial and other source dischargers. These permits limit the amount of pollutants that may be discharged into waterways. After an industrial discharge permit is issued, EPA or the state is responsible for ensuring that dischargers comply with permit conditions.