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US | EPA Releases Preliminary Effluent Guidelines Program Plan 15

EPA Effluent
In the September 14, 2021 Federal Register, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the Preliminary Effluent Guidelines Program Plan 15 for public comment. The Clean Water Act requires EPA to publish a plan every two years for new and revised effluent limitations guidelines, after public review and comment. Public comments will be accepted through October 14, 2021. Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2021-0547, to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.

Overview

EPA’s Preliminary Plan 15:

  • Discusses EPA’s 2020 annual review of effluent limitations guidelines and pretreatment standards
  • Presents its preliminary review of specific categories identified during the review
  • Provides an update on the analyses and tools EPA is developing
  • Discusses new and ongoing rulemaking actions.

EPA is initiating three new rulemakings:

  1. Meat and Poultry Products point-source category to address nutrient discharges
  2. Organic Chemicals, Plastics & Synthetic Fibers point-source category to address PFAS discharges
  3. Metal Finishing point-source category to address PFAS discharges.
The Plan discusses the Steam Electric Generating category rulemaking that was announced on July 26, 2020, which addresses certain wastewater pollution discharge limits for coal power plants that use steam to generate electricity. The Plan also provides updates on ongoing point source category studies of the electrical and electronic components category and the Multi-Industry PFAS study and explains EPA’s intention to take no further action on oil and gas extraction wastewater management. The Plan also discusses the initial results from EPA’s review for the metal products and machinery, explosives manufacturing, canned and preserved seafood, sugar processing, soap and detergent manufacturing, and landfill point source categories. ____________________ Sources
EPA, Notice of availability, Preliminary Effluent Guidelines Program Plan 15, 86 FR 51155, Sept. 14, 2021 Effluent Guidelines Plan ____________________
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