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Union Calendar No. 492 

112TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4965 

[Report No. 112–681] 

To preserve existing rights and responsibilities with respect to waters of 

the United States, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 27, 2012 

Mr. MICA (for himself, Mr. RAHALL, Mr. LUCAS, Mr. PETERSON, Mr. GIBBS, 

and Mrs. NOEM) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 

Additional sponsors: Mr. SHUSTER, Mr. RIBBLE, Mr. ROONEY, Mr. FLAKE, 

Mr. WALDEN, Mr. YOUNG of Alaska, Mr. HANNA, Mr. SCHILLING, Mr. 

SOUTHERLAND, Ms. JENKINS, Mr. GRAVES of Missouri, Mr. JONES, Mr. 

FARENTHOLD, Mr. DENHAM, Mr. STUTZMAN, Mr. POMPEO, Mr. BARROW, Mr. SCHRADER, Mr. CARTER, Mr. CONAWAY, Mr. TIPTON, Mr. 

LATTA, Mr. SMITH of Nebraska, Mr. LATHAM, Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky, 

Mr. MCINTYRE, Mr. LUETKEMEYER, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Mr. 

CRAWFORD, Mr. LANKFORD, Mr. BISHOP of Utah, Mr. CRAVAACK, Mr. 

HURT, Mr. COSTA, Mr. BROUN of Georgia, Mr. NUGENT, Mrs. ELLMERS, 

Mr. CARDOZA, Mr. KINGSTON, Mr. WESTMORELAND, Mrs. EMERSON, 

Mr. COLE, Mr. HECK, Mr. STEARNS, Mr. WOMACK, Mr. HASTINGS of 

Washington, Mrs. MILLER of Michigan, Mr. PRICE of Georgia, Mr. COSTELLO, Mr. GRAVES of Georgia, Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia, Mr. 

BOREN, Mr. TERRY, Mr. CHANDLER, Mr. KISSELL, Mr. MATHESON, 

Mrs. CAPITO, Mr. BERG, Mr. PEARCE, Mr. FINCHER, Mr. BRADY of 

Texas, Mr. ALTMIRE, Mr. KLINE, Mr. BONNER, Mr. AMODEI, Mr. 

SCHOCK, Mr. MCCLINTOCK, Mr. GOSAR, Mr. POSEY, Mr. PALAZZO, Mr. 

MARINO, Mr. CASSIDY, Mr. HUELSKAMP, Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas, Mr. 

DUNCAN of South Carolina, Mr. POE of Texas, Mr. KING of Iowa, Mr. 

BACHUS, Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado, Mr. DAVIS of Kentucky, Mr. ROSS

of Florida, Mr. GRIFFITH of Virginia, Ms. HOCHUL, Mrs. HARTZLER, 

Mrs. BACHMANN, Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana, Ms. BUERKLE, Mr. 

FRANKS of Arizona, and Mr. OWENS

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•HR 4965 RH

SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 

House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

A BILL 

To preserve existing rights and responsibilities with respect 

to waters of the United States, and for other purposes. 

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3 

•HR 4965 RH

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. IDENTIFICATION OF WATERS PROTECTED BY 

4 THE CLEAN WATER ACT. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Army and 

6 the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agen7 cy are prohibited from— 

8 (1) finalizing, adopting, implementing, admin9 istering, or enforcing the proposed guidance de10 scribed in the notice of availability and request for 

11 comments entitled ‘‘EPA and Army Corps of Engi12 neers Guidance Regarding Identification of Waters 

13 Protected by the Clean Water Act’’ (EPA–HQ–OW– 

14 2011–0409) (76 Fed. Reg. 24479 (May 2, 2011)); 

15 and 

16 (2) using the guidance described in paragraph 

17 (1), or any substantially similar guidance, as the 

18 basis for any decision regarding the scope of the 

19 Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 

20 1251 et seq.) or any rulemaking. 

21 (b) RULES.—The use of the guidance described in 

22 subsection (a)(1), or any substantially similar guidance, 

23 as the basis for any rule shall be grounds for vacating 

24 the rule. 

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•HR 4965 RH

1 SECTION 1. IDENTIFICATION OF WATERS PROTECTED BY 

2 THE CLEAN WATER ACT. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Army and the 

4 Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency are 

5 prohibited from— 

6 (1) finalizing, adopting, implementing, admin7 istering, or enforcing the proposed guidance described 

8 in the notice of availability and request for comments 

9 entitled ‘‘EPA and Army Corps of Engineers Guid10 ance Regarding Identification of Waters Protected by 

11 the Clean Water Act’’ (EPA–HQ–OW–2011–0409) 

12 (76 Fed. Reg. 24479 (May 2, 2011)); and 

13 (2) using the guidance described in paragraph 

14 (1), any successor document, or any substantially 

15 similar guidance made publicly available on or after 

16 December 3, 2008, as the basis for any decision re17 garding the scope of the Federal Water Pollution Con18 trol Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) or any rulemaking. 

19 (b) RULES.—The use of the guidance described in sub20 section (a)(1), or any successor document or substantially 

21 similar guidance made publicly available on or after De22 cember 3, 2008, as the basis for any rule shall be grounds 

23 for vacating the rule. 

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mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS

Union Calendar No. 492 

112TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4965 

[Report No. 112–681] 

A BILL 

To preserve existing rights and responsibilities with 

other purposes. respect to waters of the United States, and for 

SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Comand ordered to be printed mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS