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<REGINFO_RIN_DATA xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" RUN_DATE="2026-06-09-04:00" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/xml/REGINFO_XML_Ver10262011.xsd">
    <RIN_INFO>
        <RIN>2040-AF14</RIN>
        <PUBLICATION>
            <PUBLICATION_ID>201110</PUBLICATION_ID>
            <PUBLICATION_TITLE>The Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions</PUBLICATION_TITLE>
        </PUBLICATION>
        <AGENCY>
            <CODE>2040</CODE>
            <NAME>Water</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>WATER</ACRONYM>
        </AGENCY>
        <PARENT_AGENCY>
            <CODE>2000</CODE>
            <NAME>Environmental Protection Agency</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>EPA</ACRONYM>
        </PARENT_AGENCY>
        <RULE_TITLE>Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Steam Electric Power Generating Point Source Category</RULE_TITLE>
        <ABSTRACT><![CDATA[EPA establishes national technology-based regulations, called effluent guidelines, to reduce discharges of pollutants from industries to waters of the U.S. . These requirements are incorporated into National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) discharge permits issued by EPA and States, and through the national pretreatment program. The steam electric effluent guidelines apply to steam electric power plants using nuclear or fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas. There are about 1,200 nuclear- and fossil-fueled steam electric power plants nationwide; approximately 500 of these power plants are coal fired. In a study completed in 2009, EPA found that the current regulations, which were last updated in 1982, do not adequately address the pollutants being discharged and have not kept pace with changes that have occurred in the electric power industry over the last 3 decades. The rulemaking will address discharges from ash ponds and flue gas desulfurization (FGD) air pollution controls, as well as other power plant waste streams. Power plant discharges can have major impacts on water quality, including reduced organism abundance and species diversity, contamination of drinking water sources, and other effects. Pollutants of concern include metals (e.g., mercury, arsenic and selenium), nutrients, and total dissolved solids.]]></ABSTRACT>
        <PRIORITY_CATEGORY>Other Significant</PRIORITY_CATEGORY>
        <RIN_STATUS>Previously Published in The Unified Agenda</RIN_STATUS>
        <RULE_STAGE>Proposed Rule Stage</RULE_STAGE>
        <MAJOR>Undetermined</MAJOR>
        <UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
            <UNFUNDED_MANDATE>Undetermined</UNFUNDED_MANDATE>
        </UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
        <CFR_LIST>
            <CFR>40 CFR 423 revision</CFR>
        </CFR_LIST>
        <LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>33 USC 1311</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>33 USC 1314</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>33 USC 1316</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>33 USC 1317</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>33 USC 1318</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>33 USC 1342</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>33 USC 1361</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
        </LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
        <LEGAL_DLINE_LIST>
            <LEGAL_DLINE_INFO>
                <DLINE_TYPE>Judicial</DLINE_TYPE>
                <DLINE_ACTION_STAGE>NPRM</DLINE_ACTION_STAGE>
                <DLINE_DATE>07/23/2012</DLINE_DATE>
                <DLINE_DESC>Consent Decree</DLINE_DESC>
            </LEGAL_DLINE_INFO>
            <LEGAL_DLINE_INFO>
                <DLINE_TYPE>Judicial</DLINE_TYPE>
                <DLINE_ACTION_STAGE>Final</DLINE_ACTION_STAGE>
                <DLINE_DATE>01/31/2014</DLINE_DATE>
                <DLINE_DESC>Consent Decree</DLINE_DESC>
            </LEGAL_DLINE_INFO>
        </LEGAL_DLINE_LIST>
        <RPLAN_ENTRY>Yes</RPLAN_ENTRY>
        <RPLAN_INFO>
            <STMT_OF_NEED><![CDATA[EPA's decision to proceed with a rulemaking was announced on September 15, 2009. EPA reviewed wastewater discharges from power plants and the treatment technologies available to reduce pollutant discharges, which demonstrated the need to update the current effluent guidelines (40 CFR 423). The current regulations, which were last updated in 1982, do not adequately address the pollutants being discharged and have not kept pace with changes that have occurred in the electric power industry over the last 3 decades. Steam electric power plants are responsible for a significant amount of the toxic pollutant loadings discharged to surface waters by point sources, and coal ash ponds and flue gas desulfurization (FGD) systems are the source of much of these pollutants.]]></STMT_OF_NEED>
            <LEGAL_BASIS><![CDATA[Section 301(b)(2) of the Clean Water Act requires EPA to promulgate effluent limitations for categories of point sources, using technology-based standards, that govern the sources' discharge of certain pollutants. 33 U.S.C. section 1311(b). Section 304(b) of the Act directs EPA to develop effluent limitations guidelines (ELGs) that identify certain technologies and control measures available to achieve effluent reductions for each point source category, specifying factors to be taken into account in identifying those technologies and control measures. 33 U.S.C. section 1314(b). Since the 1970s, EPA has formulated effluent limitations and ELGs in tandem through a single administrative process. Am. Frozen Food Inst. v. Train, 539 F.2d 107 (D.C. Cir. 1976). The CWA also requires EPA to perform an annual review of existing ELGs and to revise them, if appropriate. 33 U.S.C. section 1314(b); see also 33 U.S.C. section 1314(m)(1)(A). EPA originally established effluent limitations and guidelines for the steam electric generating industry in 1974 and last updated them in 1982. 47 FR 52290 (Nov. 19, 1982). As described above, EPA determined the existing regulations do not adequately address the pollutants being discharged and that revisions are appropriate.]]></LEGAL_BASIS>
            <ALTERNATIVES><![CDATA[To be determined.]]></ALTERNATIVES>
            <COSTS_AND_BENEFITS><![CDATA[To be determined.]]></COSTS_AND_BENEFITS>
            <RISKS><![CDATA[To be determined.]]></RISKS>
        </RPLAN_INFO>
        <TIMETABLE_LIST>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>NPRM</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>08/00/2012</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>Final Action</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>03/00/2014</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
        </TIMETABLE_LIST>
        <ADDITIONAL_INFO>EPA Docket information: EPA-HQ-OW-2009-0819</ADDITIONAL_INFO>
        <RFA_REQUIRED>Undetermined</RFA_REQUIRED>
        <SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
            <SMALL_ENTITY>Businesses</SMALL_ENTITY>
            <SMALL_ENTITY>Governmental Jurisdictions</SMALL_ENTITY>
        </SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
        <GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
            <GOVT_LEVEL>Undetermined</GOVT_LEVEL>
        </GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
        <FEDERALISM>Undetermined</FEDERALISM>
        <ENERGY_AFFECTED>Undetermined</ENERGY_AFFECTED>
        <FURTHER_INFO_URL>http://water.epa.gov/scitech/wastetech/guide/steam_index.cfm</FURTHER_INFO_URL>
        <NAICS_LIST>
            <NAICS>
                <NAICS_CD>221112</NAICS_CD>
                <NAICS_DESC>Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation</NAICS_DESC>
            </NAICS>
            <NAICS>
                <NAICS_CD>221113</NAICS_CD>
                <NAICS_DESC>Nuclear Electric Power Generation</NAICS_DESC>
            </NAICS>
        </NAICS_LIST>
        <PRINT_PAPER>No</PRINT_PAPER>
        <INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>No</INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>
        <AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
            <CONTACT>
                <FIRST_NAME>Ronald</FIRST_NAME>
                <LAST_NAME>Jordan</LAST_NAME>
                <AGENCY>
                    <CODE>2040</CODE>
                    <NAME>Office of Water</NAME>
                    <ACRONYM>OW</ACRONYM>
                </AGENCY>
                <PHONE>202 566-1003</PHONE>
                <FAX>202 566-1053</FAX>
                <EMAIL>jordan.ronald@epamail.epa.gov</EMAIL>
                <MAILING_ADDRESS>
                    <STREET_ADDRESS>Mail Code 4303T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.,</STREET_ADDRESS>
                    <CITY>Washington</CITY>
                    <STATE>DC</STATE>
                    <ZIP>20460</ZIP>
                </MAILING_ADDRESS>
            </CONTACT>
            <CONTACT>
                <FIRST_NAME>Jezebele</FIRST_NAME>
                <LAST_NAME>Alicea</LAST_NAME>
                <AGENCY>
                    <CODE>2040</CODE>
                    <NAME>Office of Water</NAME>
                    <ACRONYM>OW</ACRONYM>
                </AGENCY>
                <PHONE>202 566-1755</PHONE>
                <FAX>202 566-1053</FAX>
                <EMAIL>alicea.jezebele@epamail.epa.gov</EMAIL>
                <MAILING_ADDRESS>
                    <STREET_ADDRESS>Mail Code 4303T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.,</STREET_ADDRESS>
                    <CITY>Washington</CITY>
                    <STATE>DC</STATE>
                    <ZIP>20460</ZIP>
                </MAILING_ADDRESS>
            </CONTACT>
        </AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
    </RIN_INFO>
</REGINFO_RIN_DATA>
