In Kentucky, discharges are regulated under which system?

• A. NPDES
• B. KPDES
• C. Both NPDES and KPDES
• D. None

Answer: (B)

Discharges in Kentucky are regulated through the state-operated KPDES program, Kentucky Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. The federal Clean Water Act establishes the NPDES program, but states can administer permits under their own authorized systems. Kentucky has that authorization, so its regulatory mechanism for permits is KPDES, the state implementation of NPDES. In other words, NPDES is the national framework, while KPDES is Kentucky’s formal system for issuing and enforcing those permits.