# Updates to the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Definitions and Exclusions

**Action Urgency Score:** 20/100

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Agency | Environmental Protection Agency |
| Type | Proposed rule |
| Action | Proposed rule. |
| Published | 2026-09-04 |
| Comments close | 2026-10-19 |
| Significant | No |
| CFR parts | 40 CFR 122 |
| Summary | The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposes to revise a regulatory definition under the Clean Water Act (CWA) permitting regulations pertaining to discharges in the contiguous zone and ocean. The proposal would revise the regulatory definition of "discharge of a pollutant" to reflect and faithfully implement the statutory exclusion of vessels and other floating craft that add pollutants in the contiguous zone or the ocean from inclusion in the definition of "discharge of a pollutant" or "discharge", and thus, from National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program requ |
| Document number | 2026-18134 |

## Why this score


Source: Federal Register API (Office of the Federal Register) (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/09/04/2026-18134/updates-to-the-national-pollutant-discharge-elimination-system-definitions-and-exclusions). Last refreshed: 2026-11-03T19:10:06.902Z.
Data from the Federal Register API; the published Federal Register document is authoritative. Informational only, not legal advice.