# Federal Environmental Regulatory Matrix

Authoritative federal statute matrix used by `environmental-regulation-summaries`. Update when statutes are amended; pair every penalty reference with the **40 CFR § 19.4** annual inflation table rather than embedding dollar amounts.

**Last full review: 2026-04-26.** Re-verify any item older than 12 months.

## Federal statute matrix

| Statute | Citation | Agency | Trigger | Key Obligation | Penalty Authority | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Clean Air Act (CAA)** | 42 U.S.C. § 7401 et seq. | EPA / State | Stationary or mobile emission source; nonattainment; HAP | NAAQS, Title V permit, NSR/PSD, NSPS, MACT, GHG Reporting Rule (40 CFR Part 98) | § 113(b) — civil; see 40 CFR § 19.4 for current per-day max | State SIPs implement majority of CAA |
| **Clean Water Act (CWA)** | 33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq. | EPA / Army Corps / State | Point-source discharge to WOTUS; dredge/fill; SPCC; oil-spill response | NPDES (§ 402); §404 dredge/fill; § 401 state cert; SPCC (40 CFR Part 112); OPA financial responsibility | § 309(d) — civil; see 40 CFR § 19.4 | **WOTUS scope narrowed by *Sackett v. EPA*, 598 U.S. 651 (2023); conforming rule effective Sep 8, 2023.** Significant-nexus test rejected. |
| **RCRA — Subtitle C** | 42 U.S.C. § 6921 et seq. | EPA / State (authorized) | Hazardous waste generation, transport, treatment, storage, disposal | Generator standards (40 CFR Part 262); manifest (40 CFR Part 263); TSD (Parts 264/265); financial assurance (Part 264 Subpart H) | § 3008(g) — civil; see 40 CFR § 19.4 | LQG/SQG/VSQG categories; universal waste; used oil |
| **RCRA — Subtitle D** | 42 U.S.C. § 6941 et seq. | State / EPA | Solid (non-hazardous) waste | State solid-waste plans; landfill standards (40 CFR Part 258 for MSW) | Citizen suit; state penalties | |
| **CERCLA / Superfund** | 42 U.S.C. § 9601 et seq. | EPA | Release / threatened release of hazardous substance | Reporting (§ 103, 40 CFR Part 302); response actions; cost recovery; settlement (§ 122) | § 109; strict, joint & several | **PFOA/PFOS designated as hazardous substances effective Jul 8, 2024 (40 CFR § 302.4).** RQ 1 lb / 24 hr. CERCLA § 102(a) Framework Rule announced Sep 17, 2025. |
| **EPCRA** | 42 U.S.C. § 11001 et seq. | EPA / State / LEPC | Hazardous chemical inventory; toxic release; emergency planning | Tier I/II reports (§ 312); Form R / TRI (§ 313, 40 CFR Part 372); release reporting (§ 304) | Civil penalties; see 40 CFR § 19.4 | TRI added PFAS reporting in 2023 rule (40 CFR Part 372 amendments) |
| **NEPA** | 42 U.S.C. § 4321 et seq.; § 4332(2)(C); §§ 4336–4336e (FRA 2023 amendments) | Lead federal agency (CEQ no longer issues binding rules) | Federal action with significant environmental impact | EA or EIS (per FRA 2023 page/time limits); public comment; mitigation | No statutory civil penalty; remedy is project delay / injunction in citizen-suit / APA review | **CEQ regulations (formerly 40 CFR Parts 1500–1508) rescinded effective Apr 11, 2025** (Interim Final Rule Feb 25, 2025; Final Rule Jan 8, 2026). Lead-agency procedures now control. |
| **Endangered Species Act (ESA)** | 16 U.S.C. § 1531 et seq. | FWS / NMFS | Listed species; critical habitat; federal action | § 7 consultation (federal nexus); § 9 take prohibition; § 10 incidental take permit / HCP | § 11 — civil + criminal | Citizen suit at § 11(g) |
| **TSCA** | 15 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq. | EPA | Chemical manufacture / import / use | PMN (§ 5); SNUR (§ 5(a)(2)); CDR reporting (§ 8(a)); PFAS reporting (40 CFR Part 705, final 2023-10-11) | § 16 — civil; see 40 CFR § 19.4 | TSCA Reform Act (Lautenberg Act, 2016) |
| **Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)** | 42 U.S.C. § 300f et seq. | EPA / State (PWS primacy) | Public water systems; underground injection (UIC) | NPDWRs; UIC permitting; lead and copper rule | § 1414 — civil | National Primary Drinking Water Regs (NPDWRs); finalized PFAS NPDWR Apr 2024 (challenged) |
| **OPA (Oil Pollution Act)** | 33 U.S.C. § 2701 et seq. | EPA / Coast Guard | Oil spill into navigable waters | Spill prevention; response; financial responsibility; NRD | Civil + per-barrel penalties | Coordinates with CWA § 311 |
| **MARPOL / APPS** | 33 U.S.C. § 1901 et seq. | EPA / Coast Guard | Vessel discharges | Recordkeeping; vessel general permits | Civil + criminal | |
| **Toxic Substances / FIFRA** | 7 U.S.C. § 136 et seq. | EPA | Pesticide registration, distribution, use | Registration; labeling; data submission | Civil + criminal | |

## State-analog reminders

The federal statutes above set the floor. State analogs frequently exceed federal minimums:

- **CWA**: state-issued NPDES (most states are authorized); state water-quality standards typically more stringent on wetlands and listed waters.
- **RCRA**: most states are authorized to administer; California's HSC regime is broader.
- **CERCLA**: state Superfund / VCP programs (CT, NJ, MA, MI, NY, others).
- **TSCA**: state chemical-restriction programs (CA Prop 65, Maine LD 1503 PFAS, Washington Safer Products).
- **CAA**: state SIPs; California's CARB authority preserved.

## Permitting roadmap (timelines are typical, not statutory)

| Permit | Lead agency | Typical timeline | Pre-application step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Title V Air | State / EPA Region | 12–18 months | Emission inventory and applicability determination |
| Synthetic Minor Air | State | 3–6 months | Emission cap / federally enforceable limit |
| NPDES Individual | State / EPA | 6–18 months | Discharge characterization and effluent limits |
| NPDES General (CGP, MSGP) | State / EPA | 30–90 days NOI | SWPPP preparation |
| Section 404 Individual | Army Corps | 12–24+ months | Alternatives analysis; § 401 cert from state |
| Section 404 Nationwide | Army Corps | 30–60 days PCN | Verify NWP applicability |
| Hazardous Waste TSD (RCRA Part B) | EPA / State | 18–36 months | Part A application; financial assurance |
| Underground Injection (UIC) | EPA / State | 12–24 months | Class designation |
| Pesticide Registration (FIFRA) | EPA | 12–24+ months | Data package |

## Civil penalty pointer

EPA adjusts civil penalty maximums annually under the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 (28 U.S.C. § 2461 note), as amended by the 2015 Improvements Act. **Do not embed specific dollar amounts in deliverables.** Cite **40 CFR § 19.4** as the authoritative table and pull the current value at draft time.

For reference, the values published in the Jan 8, 2025 inflation adjustment rule were:

| Statute | 2025 per-day max |
|---|---|
| CWA § 309(d) | $66,712 |
| CAA § 113(b) | $121,275 |
| RCRA § 3008(g) | $93,058 |

Updated values are published in early calendar year and codified in 40 CFR § 19.4.

## Recent developments timeline (2023–2026)

| Date | Development | Skill impact |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-05-25 | *Sackett v. EPA*, 598 U.S. 651 — narrows WOTUS | CWA § 404 jurisdiction recalibrated |
| 2023-06-03 | Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (Pub. L. 118-5) — NEPA amendments | NEPA process: page limits, deadlines codified at §§ 4336–4336e |
| 2023-08-29 | EPA-Army Corps conforming WOTUS rule | Effective 2023-09-08; significant-nexus test removed |
| 2023-10-11 | TSCA PFAS reporting final rule | 40 CFR Part 705; manufacturer/importer reporting |
| 2024-05-08 | EPA designates PFOA/PFOS as CERCLA hazardous substances (89 FR 39124) | Effective 2024-07-08; 40 CFR § 302.4; 1 lb RQ |
| 2024-04 | EPA finalizes PFAS NPDWR (drinking water MCLs) | SDWA implementation |
| 2025-02-25 | CEQ Interim Final Rule rescinding NEPA implementing regulations | Effective 2025-04-11 |
| 2025-06-30 | California AB 130 + SB 131 — major CEQA reform | Statutory infill housing exemption (≤20 acres) |
| 2025-09-17 | EPA announces CERCLA § 102(a) Framework Rule | Anticipates additional PFAS designations |
| 2026-01-08 | CEQ Final Rule on rescission of NEPA implementing regulations | Codifies 2025 rescission |

## Verification methodology

For each citation in this matrix, the verification ladder is:

1. eCFR (`ecfr.gov`) — for current regulatory text.
2. Cornell LII / U.S. Code — for statutory text.
3. Federal Register — for promulgation history.
4. Agency websites (EPA, FWS, NMFS, CEQ historical, USACE) — for guidance and program-specific detail.
5. Supreme Court / federal-circuit opinions — for case-law-driven interpretive shifts.

Record the verification date for any item changed since the previous review.