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  "id": "97-488",
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      "date": "2016-03-07",
      "retrieved": "2016-03-24T17:00:00.988092",
      "title": "Clean Water Act Section 401: Background and Issues",
      "summary": "Section 401 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) requires that an applicant for a federal license or permit provide a certification that any discharges from the facility will comply with the act, including state-established water quality standard requirements. Disputes have arisen over the states\u2019 exercise of this authority in protecting water quality. For the most part, the debate over the Section 401 certification issue has been between states and hydropower interests. A 1994 Supreme Court decision, which upheld the states\u2019 authority in this area, dismayed development and hydropower interest groups. The Court revisited these issues in a 2006 ruling that unanimously upheld the authority of states to condition hydropower licenses by exercising Section 401. \nThe dispute between states and industry groups about Section 401 authority has been a legislative issue on several occasions, but Congress has not modified the provision\u2019s scope since it was enacted in 1972. In the 114th Congress, the Senate and House are considering comprehensive energy policy proposals (H.R. 8 and S. 2012) with provisions that some states believe could impinge on states\u2019 authority under CWA Section 401 concerning hydropower projects. \nIn addition, there has been interest in clarifying whether Section 401 certification applies to nonpoint source discharges, such as rainfall runoff, as well as point source discharges from pipes or ditches. This question was raised in lawsuits in Oregon, where a federal court twice ruled that Section 401 does not apply to nonpoint source discharges. Still, some interests continue to favor a broad reading of 401 that would apply to both nonpoint and point sources of pollutant discharges.",
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      "id": "97-488_2015Jul02",
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      "title": "Clean Water Act Section 401: Background and Issues",
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      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc821497/",
      "id": "97-488_2012Dec12",
      "date": "2012-12-12",
      "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26",
      "title": "Clean Water Act Section 401: Background and Issues",
      "summary": "Under the Clean Water Act (CWA), an applicant for a federal license or permit to conduct any activity that may result in a discharge to waters of the United States must provide the federal agency with a Section 401 certification. This report discusses the certification, which  provides states with two distinct powers: one, the power indirectly to deny federal permits or licenses by withholding certification; and two, the power to impose conditions upon federal permits by placing limitations on certification.",
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          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Water",
          "name": "Water"
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        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Water purification",
          "name": "Water purification"
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          "name": "Water quality"
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      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc805095/",
      "id": "97-488_2011Aug30",
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    {
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      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc817608/",
      "id": "97-488_2008Aug21",
      "date": "2008-08-21",
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    {
      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc87124/",
      "id": "97-488_2008Mar20",
      "date": "2008-03-20",
      "retrieved": "2012-07-03T07:51:21",
      "title": "Clean Water Act Section 401: Background and Issues",
      "summary": "Report discussing specifics of the U.S. Clean Water Act. Section 401 of the Clean Water Act requires that an applicant for a federal license or permit provide a certification that any discharges from the facility will comply with the act, including water quality standard requirements. Disputes have arisen over the states' exercise of authority under Section 401. For the most part, the debate over the Section 401 certification issue has been between states and hydropower interests.",
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      "topics": [
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Water",
          "name": "Water"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Water purification",
          "name": "Water purification"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Water quality",
          "name": "Water quality"
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          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Water law and legislation",
          "name": "Water law and legislation"
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      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc809253/",
      "id": "97-488_2007Apr06",
      "date": "2007-04-06",
      "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26",
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      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc83833/",
      "id": "97-488_2006Oct05",
      "date": "2006-10-05",
      "retrieved": "2012-04-27T15:49:45",
      "title": "Clean Water Act Section 401: Background and Issues",
      "summary": "Section 401 of the Clean Water Act requires that an applicant for a federal license or permit provide a certification that any discharges from the facility will comply with the Act, including water quality standard requirements. Disputes have arisen over the states' exercise of authority under Section 401. Until recently, much of the debate over the Section 401 certification issue has been between states and hydropower interests. A 1994 Supreme Court decision which upheld the states' authority in this area dismayed development and hydroelectric power interest groups. The Court revisited these issues in a 2006 ruling that unanimously upheld the states' authority to condition hydropower licenses. The dispute between states and industry groups about Section 401 authority has been a legislative issue on several occasions, but Congress has not responded by modifying the provision's scope. In addition, there has been interest in clarifying whether Section 401 certification applies to nonpoint source discharges, such as rainfall runoff, as well as point source discharges from pipes or ditches.",
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          "id": "Water pollution",
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      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc813468/",
      "id": "97-488_2001Aug30",
      "date": "2001-08-30",
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  "topics": [
    "Energy Policy",
    "Environmental Policy"
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}