WATER QUALITY LEGISLATION
GILA RIVER DEQ WATER RELATED REGULATIONS
Wastewater Management Ordinance Title 15, Chapter 6 (currently being revised)
Groundwater Quality Ordinance (currently under development)
Surface Water Quality Standards Ordinance (currently under development)
FEDERAL LAWS
Section 402 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Program
The Clean Water Act controls direct discharges or “point sources” into a waters of the U.S. (e.g., discharges of industrial and municipal wastewater to a river)
Section 404 Permits (Dredge and Fill)
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is the federal agency responsible for issuing 404 Permits; these permits are required for the discharge of fill material into streams, wetlands and open waters.
Section 401 Water Quality Certifications
Section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act requires any applicant for a federal license or permit which may result in a discharge into a surface water to obtain a certification that the discharge will comply with applicable provisions of the State’s or Tribe’s water quality standards. Currently all Section 401 Water Quality Certifications are being conducted by EPA Region 9.
Construction and Industrial Stormwater
Currently all permits for stormwater discharges related to construction or industrial activities are issued by EPA Region 9.
EPA has developed primary and secondary drinking water standards under its Safe Drinking Water Act authority.
Underground Injection Control
The Safe Drinking Water Act Underground Injection Control (UIC) program (40 CFR Parts 144-148) is a permit program that protects underground sources of drinking water by regulating five classes of injection wells. The UIC permit program is primarily enforced by EPA in Indian country because no tribe is authorized to administer the program.