| #Q001 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | Effluent Guidelines Program Plan Publication | wastewater | The Effluent Guidelines Program Plan , published every two years, identifies existing industries selected for regulatory revisions and new industries identified for regulation. The Plan provides a rulemaking schedule for any such activities. | | medium |
| #Q002 | administrative | operational | guideline | ELG Planning Process Goals | wastewater, other | In the ELG Planning Process, the EPA is guided by the following goals: Restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation’s waters; and Provide transparent decision making and involve stakeholders early and often during the planning process. | In the ELG Planning Process | medium |
| #Q003 | administrative | operational | mandatory | ELG Prioritization Factors | wastewater | The EPA considers four main factors when prioritizing existing ELGs for possible revision: 1. The performance of applicable and demonstrated wastewater treatment technologies, process changes, and pollution prevention strategies to reduce pollutants in an industrial category’s wastewater; 2. The costs (economic achievability) of demonstrated wastewater treatment technologies, process changes, and pollution prevention alternatives; 3. The amount and types of pollutants in an industrial category’s discharge; and 4. The opportunity to promote technological innovation or to eliminate inefficiencies or impediments to pollution prevention. | when prioritizing existing ELGs for possible revision | medium |
| #Q004 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | NPDES Permit Incorporation | wastewater | The Metal Finishing Effluent Guidelines are incorporated into NPDES permits for direct dischargers, and permits or other control mechanisms for indirect dischargers (refer to Pretreatment Program). | Applies to direct and indirect dischargers performing metal finishing operations. | high |
| #Q005 | operational | treatment | mandatory | Core Operations Coverage | wastewater | If a plant performs any of those six operations, then discharges from the 46 operations listed in 40 CFR 433.10(a) are covered by the Part 433 standards. | Plant must perform one or more: electroplating, electroless plating, anodizing, coating, chemical etching and milling, or printed circuit board manufacture. | high |
| #Q006 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Job Shop and Independent PCB Manufacturer Exclusion | wastewater | Certain electroplating processes are covered by the Electroplating Category, 40 CFR Part 413, rather than Metal Finishing: 'job shop' electroplaters (those which in a calendar year do not own more than 50 percent of the material undergoing metal finishing), and independent printed circuit board manufacturers, which are located at indirect discharger facilities, and that were in operation before July 15, 1983. | Facility must be an indirect discharger in operation before July 15, 1983, and either a job shop (owning <= 50% of material) or an independent PCB manufacturer. | high |
| #Q007 | prohibition | treatment | mandatory | UOG POTW Discharge Prohibition | wastewater | These standards prohibit discharges of wastewater pollutants from onshore unconventional oil and gas (UOG) extraction facilities to publicly owned treatment works. | Applies to onshore unconventional oil and gas (UOG) extraction facilities. | high |
| #Q008 | operational | operational | mandatory | Subpart E Discharge Conditions (Ag/Wildlife Use) | agricultural water, aquatic life | The regulations at 40 CFR 435 Subpart E allow for discharge of produced water from onshore facilities into navigable waters west of the 98th meridian if the produced water has a use in agriculture or wildlife propagation. | Onshore facilities west of the 98th meridian; must have a use in agriculture or wildlife propagation. | high |
| #Q009 | operational | operational | mandatory | Subpart E Discharge Conditions (Actual Use) | agricultural water, aquatic life | The regulations in Subpart E allow for discharge of produced water west of the 98th meridian, if the produced water is of good enough quality to be used for wildlife or livestock watering or other agricultural uses and the produced water is actually put to such use during periods of discharge. | Produced water must be of good enough quality and actually put to agricultural/wildlife use during discharge. | high |
| #Q010 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | NPDES Permit Incorporation for Oil and Gas | wastewater | The regulatory requirements are incorporated into NPDES permits. | Applies to conventional and unconventional oil and gas extraction facilities under 40 CFR Part 435. | high |
| #Q011 | prohibition | operational | mandatory | Coalbed Methane Extraction Exclusion | wastewater | The Oil and Gas regulations apply to conventional and unconventional oil and gas extraction, with the exception of coalbed methane. | | high |
| #Q012 | operational | operational | mandatory | Pollutant Concentration Tool Macro Requirement | other | Note that using the Pollutant Concentration Tool requires the use of macros in Microsoft Excel. | When using the Pollutant Concentration Tool for Agricultural and Wildlife Water Use. | high |