---
kind: "section"
citation: "33 U.S.C. § 1370"
title: "33"
title_heading: "Navigation and Navigable Waters"
number: "1370"
heading: "State authority"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/33/1370"
units:
  - "Chapter 26 — Water Pollution Prevention and Control"
  - "Subchapter V — General Provisions"
---

# §1370. State authority


Except as expressly provided in this chapter, nothing in this chapter shall (1) preclude or deny the right of any [State](/usc/33/1362.md?p=3) or political subdivision thereof or [interstate agency](/usc/33/1362.md?p=2) to adopt or enforce (A) any standard or limitation respecting [discharges](/usc/33/1362.md?p=16) of [pollutants](/usc/33/1362.md?p=6), or (B) any requirement respecting control or abatement of [pollution](/usc/33/1362.md?p=19); except that if an [effluent limitation](/usc/33/1362.md?p=11), or other limitation, effluent standard, prohibition, pretreatment standard, or standard of performance is in effect under this chapter, such [State](/usc/33/1362.md?p=3) or political subdivision or [interstate agency](/usc/33/1362.md?p=2) may not adopt or enforce any [effluent limitation](/usc/33/1362.md?p=11), or other limitation, effluent standard, prohibition, pretreatment standard, or standard of performance which is less stringent than the [effluent limitation](/usc/33/1362.md?p=11), or other limitation, effluent standard, prohibition, pretreatment standard, or standard of performance under this chapter; or (2) be construed as impairing or in any manner affecting any right or jurisdiction of the [States](/usc/33/1362.md?p=3) with respect to the waters (including boundary waters) of such [States](/usc/33/1362.md?p=3).


## Source credit

(June 30, 1948, ch. 758, title V, § 510, as added Pub. L. 92–500, § 2, Oct. 18, 1972, 86 Stat. 893.)