What is the Clean Water Act and how does it relate to agriculture?

The Clean Water Act of 1972 is a federal law that was enacted to protect the quality of the waters of the United States. The Clean Water Act has a direct relation to agriculture because it is meant to regulate pollutants entering the water source from a variety of sources, including agricultural runoff. In New Hampshire, this means that the Clean Water Act applies to agricultural runoff from fields, pastures, and barnyards. This Act also focuses on prevention of pollutants entering the water source by limiting the amount and type of fertilizer, manure, and other chemicals that can be applied to the soil. In New Hampshire, the Department of Environmental Services (DES) is the main administrator of the Clean Water Act. The DES is responsible for enforcing laws and regulations related to the Clean Water Act. The DES sets water-quality standards and monitors water discharges from farms. They also have the authority to issue fines or other penalties for violations of the Clean Water Act. Additionally, the Clean Water Act outlines specific requirements for farmers to prevent pollutants from entering the water source, such as proper manure management and the use of vegetative buffer strips. Overall, the Clean Water Act is an important law that is designed to protect the quality of our water resources. It is essential that farmers in New Hampshire abide by the regulations set out by the Clean Water Act to ensure that our water quality is maintained.

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What is the Clean Water Act and how does it relate to agriculture?

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