What is the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and how does it relate to agriculture?

The Federal Water Pollution Control Act, also known as the Clean Water Act (CWA), is a law that governs the national standards for water quality in the United States. This law is important to agriculture because it requires states to establish regulations to prevent pollution of streams and wetlands used for irrigation, or to water livestock. It also requires states to develop management plans to protect these resources from contamination. The CWA also prohibits the discharge of any pollutant into waters of the United States unless the discharge is authorized by a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. This permit is issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and enforces state, tribal and federal regulations that are designed to prevent water pollution from agricultural activities. In West Virginia, the EPA has issued NPDES permits to the Division of Environmental Protection that require agricultural operators to comply with federal and state water quality regulations. This includes regulations to reduce or eliminate runoff from fields that contain pesticides, fertilizers, or other organic pollutants. Since the CWA was enacted in 1972, it has provided a legal basis for states to protect their water resources from agricultural sources. The EPA has used the CWA to develop regulations that protect drinking water, aquatic habitats, and recreational areas from water pollution caused by runoff from farms. In this way, the CWA is essential to protecting the water resources of West Virginia and the nation.

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What is the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and how does it relate to agriculture?

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