3m. Water Regulations

The Federal Clean Water Act (CWA) was released in 1972 to ensure the safety of all waterways. North Dakota developed the Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NDPDES) to meet the regulations of the CWA. Any facility that uses and releases water in North Dakota is required to have a permit from NDPDES. Facilities must also plan for the flow of stormwater.

In case of spills, coal facilities must create a Spill Prevention and Countermeasure Plan (SPCC). The plan must identify all water tanks 55 gallons and larger, include information on inspecting and monitoring the tank, and lay out a response plan if a leak was detected.