Septic Upgrade Grant Act

To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to provide for additional subsidization assistance to a municipality to carry out on-site wastewater treatment system projects, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Septic Upgrade Grant Act 2. Water pollution control revolving loan funds Section 603(i) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1383(i) (1) by striking paragraph (1)(B) and inserting the following: (B) to implement a program, process, material, technique, or technology to— (i) address water-efficiency goals; (ii) address energy-efficiency goals; (iii) mitigate stormwater runoff; (iv) mitigate pollution from from on-site wastewater treatment systems; or (v) encourage sustainable project planning, design, and construction. ; (2) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following: (3) Subsidization amounts A State may use for providing additional subsidization in a fiscal year under this subsection an amount that does not exceed the greater of— (A) 30 percent of the total amount received by the State in capitalization grants under this title for the fiscal year; or (B) the annual average over the previous 10 fiscal years of the amounts deposited by the State in the State water pollution control revolving fund from State moneys that exceed the amounts required to be so deposited under section 602(b)(2). ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (4) Additional subsidization for on-site wastewater treatment system programs (A) Eligibility (i) In general To be eligible for additional subsidization for an on-site wastewater treatment system program under paragraph (1)(B)(iv), a municipality shall ensure that such program is included in a conservation management plan approved pursuant to any State or local law or in a conservation and management plan approved pursuant to section 320. (ii) Plan contents A plan described in clause (i) shall— (I) identify any pollutants of concern or water pollution problems that threaten public health, drinking water, natural resources, or freshwater or marine ecosystem recovery; and (II) address how the on-site wastewater treatment system program described in clause (i) will abate the pollutants or water pollution problems identified in subclause (I). (iii) Program management An on-site wastewater treatment system program carried out using funds provided under this subsection shall be managed by a municipality and have enforceable program requirements to ensure the long-term sustainability of an on-site wastewater treatment system, including proper operation and maintenance of such system. (B) New construction not eligible Any on-site wastewater treatment system project proposed to be carried out on a new construction site shall not be eligible for additional subsidization pursuant to this subsection. (C) Non-Federal share The non-Federal share of the cost of an on-site wastewater treatment system project carried out under this subsection shall be not more than 20 percent. (D) Priority A State shall prioritize awarding additional subsidization under paragraph (1)(B)(iv) for on-site wastewater treatment system programs that— (i) benefit a financially distressed community (as such term is defined in section 221(c)); or (ii) are carried out in an area that— (I) is in close proximity to threatened or impaired water bodies or groundwater; or (II) has groundwater, or surface waters used as drinking water where a septic system or cesspool is known or suspected to be a major source of pollutants. (5) Definitions In this subsection: (A) New construction The term new construction (i) a new housing structure on a site; or (ii) a significant extension to an existing housing structure on a site. (B) On-site wastewater treatment system program The term on-site wastewater treatment system program (C) On-site wastewater treatment system project The term on-site wastewater treatment system project .

Summary: Septic Upgrade Grant Act This bill expands the clean water state revolving fund program to include additional subsidization for on-site wastewater treatment system projects, such as projects that replace septic systems with wastewater treatment systems that reduce nitrogen pollution as specified under the bill.