ELR Citation: ELR 20441
No(s). 90-9505 (10th Cir. Nov 25, 1991)

The court holds that the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA) authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to impose effluent limitations on the internal waste streams of a national pollutant discharge elimination system permittee. The permit at issue contains effluent limitations on the internal piping system of a power plant pursuant to an EPA regulation providing for effluent limitations on internal waste streams when it would be impractical or infeasible to monitor the effluent at the point of discharge into U.S. waters. The court holds that there is no clear congressional or presidential intent expressly forbidding EPA from imposing internal waste stream effluent limitations when such limitations would be impracticable to monitor at the end of the pipe. Further, EPA's interpretation of its authority is entitled to substantial deference. Finally, the court notes that the Fifth Circuit has held that the internal waste stream regulation falls within EPA's authority under the FWPCA to monitor and impose limitations on pollutants that eventually will be discharged into U.S. waters.

Counsel for Petitioner
Timothy J. Flanagan, Robert J. Eber, Lloyd W. Landreth
Kelly, Stansfield & O'Donnell
550 15th St., Ste. 900, Denver CO 80202
(303) 825-3534

Counsel for Respondents
Karen L. Egbert, Barry M. Hartman
Environment and Natural Resources Division
U.S. Department of Justice, Washington DC 20530
(202) 514-2000

Anne M. Ryan, E. Donald Elliott, Susan C. Lepow
Office of General Counsel
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M St. SW, Washington DC 20460
(202) 260-2090

Before BALDOCK, BARRETT, and EBEL, Circuit Judges.