Indian River Lagoon Nutrient Removal Assistance Act of 2014

To establish the Indian River Lagoon Nutrient Removal Assistance Grant Program, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Indian River Lagoon Nutrient Removal Assistance Act of 2014 2. Indian River Lagoon Nutrient Removal Assistance Grant Program (a) Establishment Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall establish an Indian River Lagoon Nutrient Removal Assistance Grant Program (in this section referred to as the Program (b) Grant authority In carrying out the Program, the Administrator may make a grant, on a competitive basis, to any of the following: (1) A State government entity. (2) A local government entity. (3) A nonprofit organization. (4) The Indian River Lagoon Program. (c) Applications To be eligible for a grant under the Program, an entity specified in subsection (b) shall submit to the Administrator an application with respect to a proposed project at such time, in such form, and containing such information as the Administrator determines is appropriate, which shall include at least a description of the proposed project and the communities to be served by the proposed project. (d) Selection criteria The Administrator shall issue regulations with respect to the criteria to be utilized to select projects for grants under the Program, which shall prioritize projects that— (1) produce the greatest nutrient load reductions; (2) result in the greatest environmental benefits to the Indian River Lagoon; and (3) advance the goals and objectives of the comprehensive plan. (e) Consultation In selecting projects for grants under the Program, the Administrator shall consult with— (1) the Indian River Lagoon Program; (2) the State of Florida and local governments in the Indian River Lagoon watershed; and (3) other relevant stakeholders involved with the protection and restoration of the Indian River Lagoon. (f) Federal share (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Federal share of the cost of a project assisted with a grant under the Program shall be 75 percent. (2) Exception At the request of a grant recipient, the recipient may lower the Federal share of the cost for a project carried out by the recipient to an amount that is less than 75 percent. (g) Definitions In this section, the following definitions apply: (1) Comprehensive plan The term comprehensive plan (A) the conservation and management plan approved under section 320 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1330 (B) any amendments to that plan. (2) Indian River Lagoon Program The term Indian River Lagoon Program 33 U.S.C. 1330 (h) Authorization of appropriations (1) In general There is authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to carry out the Program each fiscal year the amounts available in the Indian River Lagoon Nutrient Removal Assistance Trust Fund established under section 9512 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. (2) Administrative expenses The Administrator may not use more than 5 percent of the amounts made available to carry out the Program each fiscal year to pay administrative expenses incurred in carrying out the Program. (3) Prohibition No amounts made available to carry out the Program may be used for the administrative expenses of a management conference convened under section 320 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1330 (4) Rule of construction Nothing in this section may be construed to limit the eligibility of the Indian River Lagoon Program to receive funding under section 320(g) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1330(g) 3. Increase in certain civil penalties (a) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law and not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall issue regulations to increase by 5 percent each civil penalty amount established for a violation of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.). (b) Applicability The regulations issued under subsection (a) shall only apply to violations of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq. 4. Indian River Lagoon Nutrient Removal Assistance Trust Fund (a) In general Subchapter A of chapter 98 9512. Indian River Lagoon Nutrient Removal Assistance Trust Fund (a) Creation of Trust Fund There is hereby established in the Treasury of the United States a trust fund to be known as the Indian River Lagoon Nutrient Removal Assistance Trust Fund (b) Transfers to Trust Fund There are hereby appropriated to the Indian River Lagoon Nutrient Removal Assistance Trust Fund such amounts as the Secretary determines from time to time are equivalent to the increase in civil penalties under section 3(a) of the Indian River Lagoon Nutrient Removal Assistance Act of 2014 for violations of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. (c) Expenditures Amounts in the Indian River Lagoon Nutrient Removal Assistance Trust Fund shall be available as provided in appropriations Acts only for making expenditures to make grants under the Indian River Lagoon Nutrient Removal Assistance Grant Program under section 2(a) of the Indian River Lagoon Nutrient Removal Assistance Act of 2014. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections for subchapter A of chapter 98 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new item: Sec. 9512. Indian River Lagoon Nutrient Removal Assistance Trust Fund. .

Summary: Indian River Lagoon Nutrient Removal Assistance Act of 2014 - Requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish an Indian River Lagoon Nutrient Removal Assistance Grant Program to assist projects related to the protection and restoration of the Indian River Lagoon in Florida. Directs the EPA to issue regulations regarding grant selection criteria that prioritize projects that: (1) produce the greatest nutrient load reductions, (2) result in the greatest environmental benefits to the Lagoon, and (3) advance the goals and objectives of the comprehensive and management plan for the Indian River Lagoon approved under the National Estuary program of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act). Requires the EPA to issue regulations to increase by 5% each civil penalty amount established for a violation of the Clean Water Act. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish an Indian River Lagoon Nutrient Removal Assistance Trust Fund for the Program. Requires an amount equal to the increase in civil penalties to be transferred to the Fund.