{"abstract":"The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is publishing this final rule to postpone the compliance deadlines for implementation of Phase 2 of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Electronic Reporting Rule (\"NPDES eRule\"). The NPDES eRule requires EPA and states to modernize Clean Water Act (CWA) reporting. This final rule also provides states with additional flexibility to request additional time as needed. Further, this final rule promulgates clarifying changes to the NPDES eRule and eliminates some duplicative or outdated reporting requirements. Taken together, these changes are designed to save the NPDES authorized programs considerable resources, make reporting easier for NPDES-regulated entities, streamline permit renewals, ensure full exchange of NPDES program data between states and EPA, enhance public transparency, improve environmental decision- making, and protect human health and the environment.","action":"Final rule.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY","name":"Environmental Protection Agency","id":145,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/environmental-protection-agency","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/145","parent_id":null,"slug":"environmental-protection-agency"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2020/11/02/2020-21446.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"9","title":40},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"122","title":40},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"123","title":40},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"127","title":40},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"403","title":40},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"503","title":40}],"citation":"85 FR 69189","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":null,"correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"The final rule is effective on January 4, 2021. In accordance with 40 CFR part 23, this regulation shall be considered issued for purposes of judicial review at 1 p.m. Eastern time on November 16, 2020. The start dates for electronic reporting are provided in 40 CFR 127.16.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["EPA-HQ-OECA-2019-0408","FRL-10015-08-OECA"],"dockets":[],"document_number":"2020-21446","effective_on":"2021-01-04","end_page":69206,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2020/11/02/2020-21446.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/11/02/2020-21446/npdes-electronic-reporting-rule-phase-2-extension","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/2020-21446?publication_date=2020-11-02","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2020-11-02/2020-21446/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":18,"page_views":{"count":2803,"last_updated":"2026-07-27 08:15:03 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-11-02/pdf/2020-21446.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2020-21446.pdf?1604061914","publication_date":"2020-11-02","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2020/11/02/2020-21446.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"2020-AA52":{"issue":"202004","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/2020-AA52/npdes-electronic-reporting-rule-phase-2-extension","title":"NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule--Phase 2 Extension","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=202004&RIN=2020-AA52&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Substantive, Nonsignificant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["2020-AA52"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"supporting_documents":[{"title":"User Guide to the Online Docket for the NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule - Phase 2 Extension (Final Rule) [DCN 0022]","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OECA-2019-0408-0040"},{"title":"Comment Response Document for the NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule – Phase 2 Extension (Final Rule) [DCN 0021]","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OECA-2019-0408-0039"},{"title":"Assessment of NPDES Electronic Reporting Participation Rates – 2020 [DCN 0029]","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OECA-2019-0408-0037"},{"title":"The Enforcement Management System, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (Clean Water Act) [DCN 0028]","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OECA-2019-0408-0036"},{"title":"Notes from State Outreach Meeting with Iowa DNR (13 May 2020) [DCN 0027]","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OECA-2019-0408-0035"},{"title":"Notes from State Outreach Meeting with ACWA (12 May 2020) [DCN 0026]","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OECA-2019-0408-0034"},{"title":"Appendix A Changes Made by MS4 Remand Update Rule (15 April 2020) [DCN 0025]","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OECA-2019-0408-0033"},{"title":"Updates to NPDES eRule Data Elements to Reflect MS4 General Permit Remand Rule (Final Rule) [DCN 0024]","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OECA-2019-0408-0032"},{"title":"User Guide to the Online Docket for the NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule - Phase 2 Extension (Proposed Rule)","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OECA-2019-0408-0021"},{"title":"Information Collection Request (ICR) for the NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule - Phase 2 Extension (Proposal)","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OECA-2019-0408-0020"}],"regulatory_plan":{"html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/2020-AA52/npdes-electronic-reporting-rule-phase-2-extension","title":"NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule--Phase 2 Extension"},"comments_count":0,"agency_id":"EPA","comments_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/docketBrowser?rpp=50&so=DESC&sb=postedDate&po=0&dct=PS&D=EPA-HQ-OECA-2019-0408","supporting_documents_count":29,"docket_id":"EPA-HQ-OECA-2019-0408","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OECA-2019-0408-0031","regulation_id_number":"2020-AA52","title":"National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Electronic Reporting Rule - Phase 2 Extension","checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2020-11-04T04:30:09Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":false,"signing_date":null,"start_page":69189,"subtype":null,"title":"NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule-Phase 2 Extension","toc_doc":"Phase 2 Extension","toc_subject":"National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Electronic Reporting Rule:\n","topics":["Administrative practice and procedure","Confidential business information","Environmental protection","Hazardous substances","Indians-lands","Intergovernmental relations","Penalties","Reporting and recordkeeping requirements","Sewage disposal","Waste treatment and disposal","Water pollution control"],"type":"Rule","volume":85}