40 CFR § 120.1 - Purpose and scope.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t40/s120.1"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "40 CFR § 120.1 - Purpose and scope."
title_number: 40
title_name: "Protection of Environment"
section_number: "120.1"
section_name: "Purpose and scope."
chapter_name: "ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY"
subchapter_number: "D"
subchapter_name: "WATER PROGRAMS"
part_number: "120"
part_name: "DEFINITION OF WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "33 U.S.C. 1251"
regulatory_source: "85 FR 22340, Apr. 21, 2020, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "120"
---


# 120.1 Purpose and scope.

This part contains the definition of “waters of the United States” for purposes of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1251 *et seq.* and its implementing regulations. EPA regulations implementing the Clean Water Act use the term “navigable waters,” which is defined at section 502(7) of the Clean Water Act as “the waters of the United States, including the territorial seas,” or the term “waters of the United States.” In light of the statutory definition, the definition in this section establishes the scope of the terms “waters of the United States” and “navigable waters” in EPA's regulations.

[88 FR 3143, Jan. 18, 2023]