---
kind: "section"
citation: "40 C.F.R. § 401.10"
title: "40"
number: "401.10"
heading: "Scope and purpose."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/40/401.10"
---

# §401.10. Scope and purpose.


Regulations promulgated or proposed under parts [402](/cfr/40/part402.md) through [699](/cfr/40/part699.md) of this subchapter prescribe effluent limitations guidelines for existing sources, standards of performance for new sources and pretreatment standards for new and existing sources pursuant to sections 301, 304 (b) and (c), 306 (b) and (c), 307 (b) and (c) and 316(b) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended (the “Act”), 33 U.S.C. [1251](/usc/33/1251.md), [1311](/usc/33/1311.md), [1314 (b)](/usc/33/1314.md?p=b) and [(c)](/usc/33/1314.md?p=c), [1316 (b)](/usc/33/1316.md?p=b) and [(c)](/usc/33/1316.md?p=c), [1317 (b)](/usc/33/1317.md?p=b) and [(c)](/usc/33/1317.md?p=c) and [1326(b)](/usc/33/1326.md?p=b); 86 Stat. 816; Pub. L. 92-500. Point sources of discharges of pollutants are required to comply with these regulations, where applicable, and permits issued by States or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) established pursuant to section 402 of the Act must be conditioned upon compliance with applicable requirements of sections [301](/cfr/40/301.md) and [306](/cfr/40/306.md) (as well as certain other requirements). This part 401 sets forth the legal authority and general definitions which will apply to all regulations issued concerning specific classes and categories of point sources under parts [402](/cfr/40/part402.md) through [699](/cfr/40/part699.md) of this subchapter which follow. In certain instances the regulations applicable to a particular point source category or subcategory will contain more specialized definitions. Except as provided in [§ 401.17](/cfr/40/401.17.md), in the case of any conflict between regulations issued under this part 401 and regulations issued under parts [402](/cfr/40/part402.md) through [499](/cfr/40/part499.md) of this subchapter, the latter more specific regulations shall apply.


## Notes

### Amendments

[39 FR 4532, Feb. 1, 1974, as amended at 47 FR 24537, June 4, 1982]

### Authority

Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.

### Source

Source: 39 FR 4532, Feb. 1, 1974, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[39 FR 4532, Feb. 1, 1974, as amended at 47 FR 24537, June 4, 1982]