"Everything that man himself injects into the biosphere - chemical, biological or physical - can ultimately find its way into the earth's water. And these contaminants must be removed, by nature or by man, before that water is again potable."
Charles C. Johnson, Jr., Assistant Surgeon General of the United States
GOALS OF THE FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ACT
(CLEAN WATER ACT)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
The objective of this Act is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the Nation's waters.
...it is the national goal that the discharge of pollutants into the navigable waters be eliminated...
...it is the national goal that wherever attainable, an interim goal of water quality which provides for the protection and propagation of fish, shellfish and wildlife and provides for recreation in and on the water be achieved...
...it is the national policy that the discharge of toxic pollutants...be prohibited...
...it is the national policy that areawide treatment management planning processes be developed and implemented to assure adequate control of sources of pollutants in each State...
...it is the national policy that a major research and demonstration effort be made to develop technology necessary to eliminate the discharge of pollutants into the navigable waters, waters of the contiguous zone and the oceans...
...it is the national policy that programs for the control of nonpoint sources of pollution be developed and implemented in an expeditious manner so as to enable the goals of this Act to be met through the control of both point and nonpoint sources of pollution...
...it is the policy of the Congress to recognize, preserve, and protect the primary responsibilities and rights of States to prevent, reduce, and eliminate pollution, to plan the development and use (including restoration, preservation, and enhancement) of land and water resources...
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