§ 1251.
Congressional declaration of goals and policy
(a)
Restoration and maintenance of chemical, physical and biological integrity of Nation’s waters; national goals for achievement of objective
The objective of this chapter is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation’s waters. In order to achieve this objective it is hereby declared that, consistent with the provisions of this chapter—
(1)
it is the national goal that the discharge of pollutants into the navigable waters be eliminated by 1985;
(2)
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 by July 1, 1983;
(3)
it is the national policy that the discharge of toxic pollutants in toxic amounts be prohibited;
(4)
it is the national policy that Federal financial assistance be provided to construct publicly owned waste treatment works;
(5)
it is the national policy that areawide waste treatment management planning processes be developed and implemented to assure adequate control of sources of pollutants in each State;
(6)
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; and
(7)
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 chapter to be met through the control of both point and nonpoint sources of pollution.
(b)
Congressional recognition, preservation, and protection of primary responsibilities and rights of States
(c)
Congressional policy toward Presidential activities with foreign countries
(d)
Administrator of Environmental Protection Agency to administer chapter
(e)
Public participation in development, revision, and enforcement of any regulation, etc.
(f)
Procedures utilized for implementing chapter
(g)
Authority of States over water
([June 30, 1948, ch. 758], title I, § 101, as added [Pub. L. 92–500, § 2], Oct. 18, 1972, [86 Stat. 816]; amended [Pub. L. 95–217], §§ 5(a), 26(b), Dec. 27, 1977, [91 Stat. 1567], 1575; [Pub. L. 100–4, title III, § 316(b)], Feb. 4, 1987, [101 Stat. 60].)