Innovative Stormwater Infrastructure Act of 2015

To establish centers of excellence for innovative stormwater control infrastructure, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Innovative Stormwater Infrastructure Act of 2015 2. Findings Congress finds that— (1) many water resources in the United States are declining, particularly in urban and agricultural areas; (2) the decline of water resources is the result of— (A) an increase in population, water consumption, and impermeable surfaces; and (B) the negative effects of urbanization, commercial and industrial activities, and increasing and persistent droughts; and (3) an October 2008 study by the National Research Council found that some of the benefits of innovative stormwater control infrastructure include— (A) increased water supplies; (B) the creation of jobs; (C) cost savings; and (D) a reduction of stormwater runoff, surface water discharge, stormwater pollution, and stormwater flows to protect and restore natural hydrology, meeting local conditions to the maximum extent feasible. 3. Definitions In this Act: (1) Administrator The term Administrator (2) Center The term center (3) Eligible entity The term eligible entity (A) a State, tribal, or local government; or (B) a local, regional, or other entity that manages stormwater, drinking water resources, or waste water resources. (4) Eligible institution (A) In general The term eligible institution 20 U.S.C. 1001 (i) conducting research on innovative stormwater control infrastructure to determine the means by which innovative infrastructure reduces stormwater runoff, enhances and protects drinking water sources, and improves water quality; (ii) developing and disseminating information regarding the means by which an organization can use innovative stormwater control infrastructure; (iii) providing technical assistance to an organization for an innovative stormwater control infrastructure project; (iv) developing best practices standards for innovative stormwater control infrastructure; (v) providing job training relating to innovative stormwater control infrastructure; (vi) developing course curricula for— (I) elementary schools (as defined in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7801 (II) secondary schools (as defined in that section); (III) institutions of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001 (IV) vocational schools; (vii) training students regarding innovative stormwater control infrastructure; or (viii) providing information to the Federal Government or State, tribal, and local governments regarding the implementation of innovative stormwater control infrastructure. (B) Associated definition For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term research institution (i) described in section 501(c)(3) (ii) exempt from tax under section 501(a) (iii) organized and operated for research purposes. (5) Indian tribe The term Indian tribe 33 U.S.C. 1377(h) (6) State The term State (A) each of the several States of the United States; (B) the District of Columbia; (C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; (D) Guam; (E) American Samoa; (F) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; (G) the Federated States of Micronesia; (H) the Republic of the Marshall Islands; (I) the Republic of Palau; and (J) the United States Virgin Islands. (7) Innovative stormwater control infrastructure (A) In general The term innovative stormwater control infrastructure (i) uses natural systems or engineered systems that mimic natural processes to infiltrate, evapotranspire, or capture stormwater; and (ii) preserves, enhances, or mimics natural hydrology to protect or restore water quality. (B) Inclusions The term innovative stormwater control infrastructure (i) methods that promote absorption, uptake, percolation, evapotranspiration, and filtration by soil and plant life; and (ii) the preservation or restoration of— (I) natural topography, including hills, plains, ravines, and shorelines; (II) interconnected networks of natural land that protect essential ecological functions critical for water quality; (III) ecological function, including forests, grasslands, and deserts; (IV) bodies of water, including lakes, flood plains, headwaters, and wetlands; and (V) native soil characteristics of composition, structure, and transmissivity. 4. Centers of Excellence for innovative stormwater control infrastructure (a) Establishment of centers (1) In general The Administrator shall provide grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible institutions to establish and maintain not less than 3, and not more than 5, centers of excellence for innovative stormwater control infrastructure, to be located in various regions throughout the United States. (2) General operation Each center shall— (A) conduct research on innovative stormwater control infrastructure that is relevant to the geographical region in which the center is located, including stormwater and sewer overflow reduction, other approaches to water resource enhancement, and other environmental, economic, and social benefits; (B) develop manuals and establish industry standards on best management practices relating to State, tribal, local, and commercial innovative stormwater control infrastructure for use by State, tribal, and local governments and the private sector; (C) develop and administer testing and evaluation protocols to measure and verify the performance of stormwater infrastructure products and practices; (D) provide information regarding research conducted under subparagraph (A), manuals developed under subparagraph (B), and testing and evaluation performed under subparagraph (C) to the national electronic clearinghouse center for publication on the Internet website established under subsection (c) to provide to the Federal Government and State, tribal, and local governments and the private sector information regarding innovative stormwater control infrastructure; (E) provide technical assistance to State, tribal, and local governments to assist with the construction, operation, and maintenance of innovative stormwater control infrastructure projects; (F) collaborate with institutions of higher education and private and public organizations in the geographical region in which the center is located on innovative stormwater control infrastructure research and technical assistance projects; (G) assist institutions of higher education, secondary schools, and vocational schools to develop innovative stormwater control infrastructure curricula; (H) provide training regarding innovative stormwater control infrastructure to institutions of higher education and professional schools; (I) evaluate regulatory and policy issues relating to innovative stormwater control infrastructure; and (J) coordinate with the other centers to avoid duplication of efforts. (b) Application To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an eligible institution shall prepare and submit to the Administrator an application at such a time, in such form, and containing such information as the Administrator may require. (c) National electronic clearinghouse center Of the centers established under subsection (a)(1), one shall— (1) be designated as the national electronic clearinghouse center (2) in addition to the other functions of that center— (A) develop, operate, and maintain an Internet website and a public database that contain information relating to innovative stormwater control infrastructure; and (B) post to the website information from all centers. 5. Innovative stormwater control infrastructure project grants (a) Grant authority The Administrator shall provide grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to carry out innovative stormwater control infrastructure projects in accordance with this section. (b) Innovative stormwater control infrastructure projects (1) Planning and development grants The Administrator may make planning and development grants under this section for the following projects: (A) Planning and designing innovative stormwater control infrastructure projects, including engineering surveys, landscape plans, maps, and implementation plans. (B) Identifying and developing standards and revisions to local zoning, building, or other local codes necessary to accommodate innovative stormwater control infrastructure projects. (C) Identifying and developing fee structures to provide financial support for design, installation, and operations and maintenance of innovative stormwater control infrastructure. (D) Developing training and educational materials regarding innovative stormwater control infrastructure for distribution to— (i) individuals and entities with applicable technical knowledge; and (ii) the public. (E) Developing an innovative stormwater control infrastructure portfolio standard program described in section 6(e). (2) Implementation grants The Administrator may make implementation grants under this section for the following projects: (A) Installing innovative stormwater control infrastructure. (B) Protecting or restoring interconnected networks of natural areas that protect water quality. (C) Monitoring and evaluating the environmental, economic, or social benefits of innovative stormwater control infrastructure. (D) Implementing a best practices standard for an innovative stormwater control infrastructure program. (E) Implementing an innovative stormwater control infrastructure portfolio standard program described in section 6(e). (c) Application Except as otherwise provided in this Act, to be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall prepare and submit to the Administrator an application at such time, in such form, and containing such information as the Administrator may require, including, as applicable— (1) a description of the innovative stormwater control infrastructure project; (2) a plan for monitoring the impacts of the innovative stormwater control infrastructure project on the water quality and quantity; (3) an evaluation of other environmental, economic, and social benefits of the innovative stormwater control infrastructure project; and (4) a plan for the long-term operation and maintenance of the innovative stormwater control infrastructure project. (d) Additional requirement for innovative stormwater control infrastructure portfolio standard project In addition to an application under subsection (c), a State or Indian tribe applying for a grant for an innovative stormwater control infrastructure portfolio standard program described in section 6(e) shall prepare and submit to the Administrator a schedule of increasing minimum percentages of the annual water to be managed using innovative stormwater control infrastructure under the program. (e) Priority In making grants under this section, the Administrator shall give priority to applications submitted on behalf of— (1) a community that— (A) has combined storm and sanitary sewers in the collection system of the community; or (B) is a low-income or disadvantaged community, as determined by the Administrator; or (2) an eligible entity that will use not less than 10 percent of the grant to provide service to a low-income or disadvantaged community, as determined by the Administrator. (f) Maximum amounts (1) Planning and development grants (A) Single grant The amount of a single planning and development grant provided under this section shall be not more than $200,000. (B) Aggregate amount The total amount of all planning and development grants provided under this section for a fiscal year shall be not more than 1/3 (2) Implementation grants (A) Single grant The amount of a single implementation grant provided under this section shall be not more than $3,000,000. (B) Aggregate amount The total amount of all implementation grants provided under this section for a fiscal year shall be not more than 2/3 (g) Federal share (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (3), the Federal share of a grant provided under this section shall not exceed 65 percent of the total project cost. (2) Credit for implementation grants The Administrator shall credit toward the non-Federal share of the cost of an implementation project carried out under this section the cost of planning, design, and construction work completed for the project using funds other than funds provided under this Act. (3) Exception The Administrator may waive the Federal share limitation under paragraph (1) for an eligible entity that has adequately demonstrated financial need. 6. Environmental Protection Agency innovative stormwater control infrastructure promotion (a) In general The Administrator shall ensure that the Office of Water, the Office of Enforcement and Compliance, the Office of Research and Development, and the Office of Policy of the Environmental Protection Agency promote the use of innovative stormwater control infrastructure in and coordinate the integration of innovative stormwater control infrastructure into permitting programs, planning efforts, research, technical assistance, and funding guidance. (b) Duties The Administrator shall ensure that the Office of Water— (1) promotes the use of innovative stormwater control infrastructure in the programs of the Environmental Protection Agency; (2) supports establishing public-private partnerships and other innovative financing mechanisms in the implementation of innovative stormwater control infrastructure; and (3) coordinates efforts to increase the use of innovative stormwater control infrastructure with— (A) other Federal departments and agencies; (B) State, tribal, and local governments; and (C) the private sector. (c) Regional innovative stormwater control infrastructure promotion The Administrator shall direct each regional office of the Environmental Protection Agency, as appropriate based on local factors, to promote and integrate the use of innovative stormwater control infrastructure within the region that includes— (1) a plan for monitoring, financing, mapping, and designing the innovative stormwater control infrastructure; (2) outreach and training regarding innovative stormwater control infrastructure implementation for State, tribal, and local governments, tribal communities, and the private sector; and (3) the incorporation of innovative stormwater control infrastructure into permitting and other regulatory programs, codes, and ordinance development, including the requirements under consent decrees and settlement agreements in enforcement actions. (d) Innovative stormwater control infrastructure information-Sharing The Administrator shall promote innovative stormwater control infrastructure information-sharing, including through an Internet website, to share information with, and provide technical assistance to, State, tribal, and local governments, tribal communities, the private sector, and the public regarding innovative stormwater control infrastructure approaches for— (1) reducing water pollution; (2) protecting water resources; (3) complying with regulatory requirements; and (4) achieving other environmental, public health, and community goals. (e) Innovative stormwater control infrastructure portfolio standard The Administrator, in collaboration with State, tribal, and local water resource managers, shall establish voluntary measurable goals, to be known as the innovative stormwater control infrastructure portfolio standard 7. Report to Congress Not later than September 30, 2017, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report that includes, with respect to the period covered by the report— (1) a description of all grants provided under this Act; (2) a detailed description of— (A) the projects supported by those grants; and (B) the outcomes of those projects; (3) a description of the improvements in technology, environmental benefits, resources conserved, efficiencies, and other benefits of the projects funded under this Act; (4) recommendations for improvements to promote and support innovative stormwater control infrastructure for the centers, grants, and activities under this Act; and (5) a description of existing challenges concerning the use of innovative stormwater control infrastructure. 8. Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2021.

Summary: Innovative Stormwater Infrastructure Act of 2015 This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide grants to eligible higher education institutions and research institutions to establish and maintain between three and five centers of excellence for innovative stormwater control infrastructure, which is any stormwater management technique that: (1) uses natural systems or engineered systems that mimic natural processes to infiltrate, evapotranspire, or capture stormwater; and (2) preserves, enhances, or mimics natural hydrology to protect or restore water quality. One of the centers must be the national electronic clearinghouse center and operate a website and a public database on the infrastructure. The EPA must: (1) provide grants to eligible entities that manage stormwater, water resources, or wastewater resources to carry out innovative stormwater control infrastructure projects; and (2) give priority to applications from a community that has combined storm and sanitary sewers in its collection system or is low-income or disadvantaged, or from an eligible entity that will use at least 10% of the grant for a low-income or disadvantaged community. The EPA must ensure that: (1) EPA's Office of Water, Office of Enforcement and Compliance, Office of Research and Development, and Office of Policy promote the use of the infrastructure in, and coordinate its integration into, permitting programs, planning efforts, research, technical assistance, and funding guidance; and (2) the Office of Water supports establishing innovative financing mechanisms in the implementation of the infrastructure. The EPA must: (1) direct each EPA regional office to promote and integrate the use of the infrastructure within the region, and (2) promote sharing information about the infrastructure approaches. The EPA must establish the innovative stormwater control infrastructure portfolio standard of voluntary, measurable goals to increase the percentage of annual water managed by entities that use the infrastructure.