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The Clean Water Act was enacted in 1972. As a result, it turns 45 today.
President Richard Nixon is credited with the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and signing of the National Environmental Policy Act and Clean Air Act in 1970. However, he vetoed on October 17, 1972, the Clean Water Act legislation that Congress subsequently passed. The veto was done on budgetary grounds.
Congress then overrode the veto on October 18th and the Clean Water Act was enacted into law.