[1] The Army Corps of Engineers administered the Act and initially focused on controlling debris that obstructed navigation.

Notable cases include United States v. Republic Steel Corp. (1960) [4] and U.S. v. Standard Oil Co.

In 1970 President Richard Nixon issued an Executive Order creating a new permit program under the Refuse Act.

[2]: 3–6 [6] The Corps of Engineers began to issue the new discharge permits, but in 1971 a legal challenge halted the program.

[8] The amendments assigned lead responsibility for implementation of NPDES to the newly formed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).