EPA Finalizes Rule on Electronic Reporting Of Water Pollution Discharges From Industry

摘要

Industrial facilities covered by Clean Water Act permits will have to submit their discharge monitoring reports and other information electronically, saving on the cost of paperwork among other benefits, the Environmental Protection Agency said in a final rule signed Sept. 24. Changes from the 2013 proposal on electronic reporting for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits are provisions allowing authorized states more time to shift to electronic reporting and more flexibility for granting waivers. Most facilities that must submit effluent monitoring reports will be required to submit them electronically one year after the rule goes into effect, which will be 60 days after publication. EPA said it plans to publish the final rule in the Federal Register in October. In a second phase, electronic reporting will be required for other Clean Water Act reports such as performance status reports for municipal urban stormwater programs, controls on industrial discharges to local sewage treatment plants and sewer overflows, the EPA said in a news release. States will have five years to collect and provide this data electronically, instead of two as originally proposed. The plan to eliminate reporting on paper is expected to save about $22.6 million each year and make environmental reporting more accurate, complete and efficient, the EPA said. It also will make it possible for the public to see data about specific facilities, including information about inspection and enforcement history, on the EPA's website.