"PLAIN MEANING" DECISION CLARIFIES STANDARD FOR EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS

Conventional pollutants are subject to the best conventional pollutant control technology standard under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1977. Industrial and trade associations sought judicial review of bct standards published by EPA. The petitioners asserted that EPA considered only a cost-comparison test in setting bct standards, rather than employing cost-comparison and cost-effectiveness criteria as required in the Act. Courts held that EPA must use both tests in setting bct standards for conventional pollutants from private industrial sources.