Microconstituents are beginning to make their way into discharge permits in the United States. Removal of microconstituents often requires tertiary treatment, and utilities are interested to know what permit limits they might expect in the future as they plan for capital improvements. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) currently is focusing on developing methods to determine the endocrine-disrupting impact of particular compounds. EPA has developed some criteria for endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), but the states have been slow to turn these criteria into standards, and their inclusion into permits is much slower. While several states are moving forward with developing standards for diazinon, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), nonylphenol, atrazine, and tributyltin, permit holders probably will not see EDCs in permits in the near future.