[20201001]IF10778_蒸汽发电机组流出物限制指南和标准概述.pdf

https:/crsreports.congress.gov Updated October 1, 2020Overview of the Steam Electric Power Generator Effluent Limitation Guidelines and StandardsOverview The Clean Water Act (CWA) directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate the discharge of pollutants into waters of the United States. Such discharges are prohibited without a permit. Thus, industrial dischargers and others must obtain permits from states or EPA that set limits on pollutants in their effluent. To guide the limits set in permits for industrial dischargers, EPA issues Effluent Limitation Guidelines and standards (ELGs)technology-based standardsfor categories of industrial dischargers. Since 1972, EPA has promulgated ELGs for 59 industrial categories, including the steam electric power industrywhich covers power plants that use nuclear or fossil fuels to generate steam used to produce electricity. In November 2015, EPA published revised ELGs (80 Federal Register 67838) for the steam electric power industry to replace rules issued in 1982. EPA determined that new ELGs were necessary to reflect changes in the industry. For example, technology improvements since 1982, particularly at coal-fired power pla