On October 16, 1972, Congress passed the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments over the president's veto.¹ The Act, which took effect immediately, settled numerous discretionary and non-discretionary duties on the Administrator of EPA and prescribed deadlines for compliance with his mandatory responsibilities. In May 1973, the National Resources Defense Council filed suit against Robert Fri, the agency's Acting Administrator, alleging failure to perform the duties mandated by fourteen separate provisions of the new law, despite expiration of the time limits set on his actions ranging from mid-December to mid-May. In early June, the parties signed a stipulation agreement, setting new deadlines for agency compliance with the 14 statutory directives.²