Clean Water Act Can this legislation ensure pristine water
quality, or are three-eyed fish the future? - In 1972, Congress
passed the Federal Water Control Pollution Act, better known as
the Clean Water Act. - The legislation created the National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program,
which requires that any party that discharges or affects the
discharge of any pollutant get a permit for that activity. - In
2011, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Reducing
Regulatory Burdens Act of 2011, which could make it easier for
industries to use pesticides in or near navigable waters. A
constant struggle for the recreational fishing community before
the 1970s was keeping pollutants out of our waters. From
industrial pollution to agricultural run-off, our streams, lakes
and estuaries were battered from wanton waste. Then, in 1972,
anglers finally got some help in this struggle when the Clean
Water Act was signed into law. Among other things, the
legislation created the National Pollutan