Transcript Slide 1
Chapter 15
Improving Water Quality: Controlling Point and Nonpoint Sources
© 2004 Thomson Learning/South-Western
Controlling Point Sources: Effluent Limitations
Overview of the Effluent Limits and National Permits
Effluent Limitations – instituted through the Federal Water pollution Act (FWPCA) of 1972
Technology-based effluent limitations – standards to control discharges from point sources based primarily on technological capability
Direct industrial discharges – release their wastes into surface waters without any intermediary
Permit System
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) – a federally mandated permit system used to control effluent releases from direct industrial discharges and POTWs
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Controlling Point Sources: Effluent Limitations
Technology-Based Effluent Limitations for Direct Industrial Dischargers
Effluent limitations are more accurately termed performance based standards
Standards are source dependent
New source – one whose construction begun after proposed regulations had been announced
Existing source – one whose construction begun before proposed regulations had been announced
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Analysis of Effluent Limitations on Point Sources
Administrative Delays
Over the past 25 years, the EPA’s track record has been slow in developing and revising effluent guidelines, which are the basis for the federal limitations
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Analysis of Effluent Limitations on Point Sources
Imprecise and Inconsistent Definitions
Fundamental problem with effluent limitations is that they are not aligned with the nation’s objectives
Water quality-related limitations – modified effluent limits to be met if the desired water quality level is not being achieved even if polluters are satisfying the technology-based limits
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Analysis of Effluent Limitations on Point Sources
Meeting the Zero Discharge Goal
Overly ambitious
Inefficient objective
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Analysis of Effluent Limitations on Point Sources
Absence of Economic Decision Rules
Lack of an Efficiency Criterion
Provisions offer no guidance as to how they are to be used in decision making
Lack of precision in the reference to benefits and costs
Cost-Ineffective Decision Making
Under the Clean Water Act, the uniformity of the effluent limits prevents a cost-effective outcome
Lack of a reward system for efficient abaters to reduce effluents beyond legal limits
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Waste Treatment Management and the Potw Program
The Pre-1987 Federal Grant Program
Federal grant program – provided major funding from the federal government for a share of the construction costs of POTWs
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Waste Treatment Management and the Potw Program
Shift to the State Revolving Fund (SRF) Program in 1987
State Revolving Fund (SRF) program – establishes state lending programs to support POTW construction and other projects
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Analysis of the POTW Funding Program
Assessing the Accomplishments Attributable to Federal Subsidies
Argument that federal subsidies have been effective because municipal waste treatment has progressed measurably is falsely motivated
An increasing percentage of the population is served by facilities using at least secondary treatment
Observed improvement in wastewater treatment cannot be attributed fully to the grant program
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Analysis of the POTW Funding Program
Inefficiencies in the Federal Grant Program
Lack of Incentives
Policy Response
Equity Implications
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Controlling
Nonpoint Sources
Nonpoint Source Management Program – a three-stage, state implemented plan aimed at nonpoint source pollution
Best management practices (BMP) – strategies other than effluent limitations to reduce pollution from nonpoint sources
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Controlling Nonpoint Sources
Devising and Updating a Framework
In 1989, the EPA developed its Nonpoint Source Agenda for the Future to help define national goals for nonpoint source pollution and to find appropriate mechanisms to achieve them
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Controlling Nonpoint Sources
Watershed Approach
Watershed – land areas that drain into a particular water body
Attending to the watershed allows public officials to gain a better sense of the overall environmental conditions in an area
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Analysis of Controls on Nonpoint Sources
Delegating Control to the States: The Pros
Variability of Nonpoint Source Pollution
Land Use Practices
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Analysis of Controls on Nonpoint Sources
Delegating Control to the States: The Cons
Information Deficiencies
Poor Monitoring Systems
Inconsistent Controls
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Analysis of Controls on Nonpoint Sources
Analyzing the Federal Role in Nonpoint Source Controls
Resource Allocation
Federal funds are needed to fill information voids about nonpoint source pollution
Coordination with Other National Programs
Conflict between water quality objectives and other regulations needs to be resolved at federal level
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Proposals for Reform: Using the Market
Market Approaches to Point Source Pollution
Effluent Fees
Volume-based effluent fee – a fee based on the quantity of pollution discharged
Pollutant-based effluent fee – a fee based on the degree of harm associated with the contaminant being released
Tradeable Effluent Permits
Tradeable effluent permit market – the exchange of rights to pollute among water polluting sources
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Proposals for Reform: Using the Market
Figure 15.2 Cost-Effectiveness of a Per Unit Effluent Fee
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Proposals for Reform: Using the Market
Figure 15.3 Inefficiency of a National Per Unit Effluent Fee
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Proposals for Reform: Using the Market
Market Approaches to Nonpoint Source Pollution
Product Charge – fee added to the price of a pollution generating product based on its quantity of some attribute responsible for pollution
Effluent Reduction Trading Within a
Effluent reduction trading policy – establishes an abatement objective for a watershed and allows sources to negotiate trades for rights to pollute Effluent reduction credits – tradeable permits issued if a polluter discharges a lower level of effluents than what is attained by law Effluent allowances – tradeable permits issued up-front that give a polluter the right to release effluents in the future 21