The New Year is customarily a symbol of a clean slate and new beginnings. This year, this notion rings especially true for all Clean Water Act National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitholders. 2016 marks the year the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has eliminated paper-based reporting for all NPDES permittees. In proverbial terms, out with the old handwritten documentation and in with the new digital reporting system.
 |
In October 2015, the EPA finalized the NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule, which became effective on December 21, 2015. The final rule shakes up the status quo of outdated paper-based reporting and propels the EPA into the 21st century trend of electronic reporting (e-reporting). The EPA asserts the new rule will save time and valuable resources while increasing data accuracy, improving compliance, and better protection of the nation’s waters.