Providing Waivers from NPDES Permit Compliance Schedules for Industrial Pollution Prevention Technology. The Industrial Pollution Prevention Project (IP3) Analysis of Sections 301(k) and 307(e) of the Clean Water Act

摘要

The Office of Water has initiated an Industrial Pollution Prevention Project (IP3) to look at how best to promote multi-media pollution prevention in its current and future regulatory activities. One facet of the IP3 is to explore the degree to which the Section 301(k) innovation waiver provision under the Clean Water Act (CWA) has been, or could become, an effective vehicle for promoting the development and implementation of innovative pollution prevention technologies. While 301(k) variance provision for direct dischargers expired in March 1991, a parallel provision for indirect dischargers, 307(e), is still in effect. Further, the 301(k) provision could be reactivated by Congress during the current CWA reauthorization.