该分析由美国石油学会委托，旨在让成员公司和公众更好地了解与向美国地表水排放营养物有关的水质问题、联邦和州对营养物相关水质问题的现行监管对策、营养物控制的科学和实施挑战，以及炼油业对全国地表水营养盐排放的相对贡献。这项研究基于美国地表水营养物富集的现有公开数据；美国环境保护局（EPA）和州营养控制指南、政策和水质标准； 由第三方顾问对API进行的事先分析；来自EPA综合合规信息系统/国家污染物排放消除系统（ICIS-NPDES）的炼油厂废水质量数据；并允许从德克萨斯州环境质量委员会（TCEQ）的文件中收集数据。

This analysis was commissioned by API to provide member companies and the public with a better understanding of the water quality problems associated with nutrient discharges to the nation's surface waters, the current federal and state regulatory responses to nutrient-related water quality problems, the scientific and implementation challenges of nutrient controls, and the petroleum refining industry's relative contribution to nationwide nutrient discharges to surface waters.This study is based on using available published data on nutrient enrichment of U.S. surface waters; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state nutrient control guidance, policy, and water quality standards; prior analysis performed for API by a third-party consultant; petroleum refinery effluent quality data from the EPA Integrated Compliance Information System/National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (ICIS-NPDES); and permit data collected from the files of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).