FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ACT [PUBLIC LAW 660-84TH CONGRESS, AS AMENDED 1] AN ACT To provide for water pollution control activities in the Public Health Service of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, and for other purposes. [33 U.S.C. 466 ET SEQ.] DECLARATION OF POLICY SECTION 1. (a) The purpose of this Act is to enhance the quality and value of our water resources and to establish a national policy for the prevention, control, and abatement of water pollution. (b) In connection with the exercise of jurisdiction over the waterways of the Nation and in consequence of the benefits resulting to the public health and welfare by the prevention and control of water pollution, it is hereby declared to be the policy of Congress to recognize, preserve, and protect the primary responsibilities and rights of the States in preventing and controlling water pollution, to support and aid technical research relating to the prevention and control of water pollution, and to provide Federal technical services and financial aid to State and interstate agencies and to municipalities in connection with the prevention and control of water pollution. The Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (hereinafter in this Act called "Secretary") shall administer this Act through the Administration created by section 2 of this Act, and with the assistance of an Assistant Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare designated by him, shall supervise and direct (1) the head of such Administration in administering this Act and (2) the administration of all other functions of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare related to water pollution. Such Assistant Secretary shall perform such additional functions as the Secretary may prescribe. (c) Nothing in this Act shall be construed as impairing or in any manner affecting any right or jurisdiction of the States with respect to the waters (including boundary waters) of such States. FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ADMINISTRATION SEC. 2. Effective ninety days after the date of enactment of this section 2 there is created within the Depart 1 Basic Act (P.L. 84-660), approved July 9, 1956, amended by the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1961 (P.L. 87-88), approved July 20, 1961, and by the Water Quality Act of 1965 (P.L. 89234), approved October 2, 1965. This section added by sec. 2, P.L. 89-234, approved October 2, 1965. ment of Health, Education, and Welfare a Federal Water Pollution Control Administration (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the "Administration"). The head of the Administration shall be appointed, and his compensation fixed, by the Secretary. The head of the Administration may, in addition to regular staff of the Administration, which shall be initially provided from the personnel of the Department, obtain, from within the Department or otherwise as authorized by law, such professional, technical, and clerical assistance as may be necessary to discharge the Administration's functions and may for that purpose use funds available for carrying out such functions; and he may delegate any of his functions to, or otherwise authorize their performance by, an officer or employee of, or assigned or detailed to, the Administration. COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMS FOR WATER POLLUTION CONTROL SEC. 3. (a) The Secretary shall, after careful investigation, and in cooperation with other Federal agencies, with State water pollution control agencies and interstate agencies, and with the municipalities and industries involved, prepare or develop comprehensive programs for eliminating or reducing the pollution of interstate waters and tributaries thereof and improving the sanitary condition of surface and underground waters. In the development of such comprehensive programs due regard shall be given to the improvements which are necessary to conserve such waters for public water supplies, propagation of fish and aquatic life and wildlife, recreational purposes, and agricultural, industrial, and other legitimate uses. For the purpose of this section, the Secretary is authorized to make joint investigations with any such agencies of the condition of any waters in any State or States, and of the discharges of any sewage, industrial wastes, or substance which may adversely affect such waters. (b) (1) In the survey or planning of any reservoir by the Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, or other Federal agency, consideration shall be given to inclusion of storage for regulation of streamflow for the purpose of water quality control, except that any such storage and water releases shall not be provided as a substitute for adequate treatment or other methods of controlling waste at the source. (2) The need for and the value of storage for this purpose shall be determined by these agencies, with the advice of the Secretary, and his views on these matters shall be set forth in any report or presentation to the Congress proposing authorization or construction of any reservoir including such storage. |