Who Enforces the Clean Water Act?
The Clean Water Act, in general, is enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), but dredge and fill permitting is enforced by the Army Corps of Engineers. The EPA has established national standards for the maximum amount of pollutants that may be released under its permits. States are authorized under the Clean Water Act to establish their own standards for allowable levels of pollutants, as long as such standards are at least as stringent as those mandated by the EPA. The state may also be delegated permitting authority by the EPA. Currently, Florida has been delegated enforcement of only portions of the Clean Water Act (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permitting is still conducted by the EPA).
