The Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments were enacted in 1972. This set of laws and additional amendments is known as the Clean Water Act. The Act gave the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) authority to establish programs designed to clean U.S. waters and maintain water quality.
The EPA delegates its authority to manage and regulate programs to the states. Stormwater Phase II is the latest component of the Clean Water Act. Stormwater Phase II regulations address stormwater discharges from small municipal separate storm sewer systems and construction sites that disturb at least one acre.