Is Congress Protecting Our Water? The Controversy Over Section 404, Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972

In 1976 both Houses of the 94th Congress passed amendments to section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. However, the Joint Committee of the House and Senate was unable to write a compromise amendment, leaving the issue to be resolved during the present Congress. The author discusses the environmental interests and political forces which led to the deadlock, and presents the merits of the various proposals which were considered. Moreover, by analyzing the competing economic and ecological policies, the author suggests a course of action for the 95th Congress to take in its re-evaluation of the section 404 program