Publication Summary

In April 1996 the Washington State Department of Ecology conducted a survey of nine states regarding their NPDES compliance monitoring programs. This report summarizes findings from the survey.

In April 1996 the Washington State Department of Ecology conducted a survey of nine states regarding their NPDES compliance monitoring programs. This report summarizes findings from the survey.

Each state surveyed affirmed it has a program of compliance inspections consistent with federal regulations for NPDES delegation. The range of activities pursued by individual state agencies in implementing their programs varies considerably. Several states perform mixing zone analyses, but there is no consistency in the level of effort. Toxicity or bioassay testing is conducted to some degree by most states, and many states consider this test the most important in an inspection. Costs for compliance inspections have not been calculated by the states, and funding sources vary. All states responded that compliance inspections are conducted from regional or district offices.

Budget constraints are forcing a number of states to shift the emphasis away from compliance programs to less costly initiatives. Technical assistance programs appear to be the most common alternative to compliance inspections, although there is little empirical evidence on the effectiveness of such programs. Many states are applying a "watershed" or basin approach to their permitting and inspection activities. Automated data entry from permittees and regional offices to centralized offices is being tried by some states.

Link to EIM data for User Study ID Peshas