Clean Water Compliance and Affordability Act

To direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to carry out a pilot program to work with municipalities that are seeking to develop and implement integrated plans to meet wastewater and stormwater obligations under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Clean Water Compliance and Affordability Act 2. Integrated municipal stormwater and wastewater approach framework (a) In general In the first 5 fiscal years beginning after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (referred to in this section as the Administrator 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq. (b) Framework The Administrator shall carry out the pilot program in a manner that is consistent with the Integrated Municipal Stormwater and Wastewater Approach Framework issued by the Environmental Protection Agency and dated May 2012. (c) Selection of eligible municipalities (1) In general The Administrator, in consultation with States that have approved National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System programs, shall select not less than 15 eligible municipalities to participate in the pilot program. (2) Eligible municipality An eligible municipality is a county, city, town, township, or subdivision of a State or local government that— (A) qualifies as a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit holder or designee; or (B) is a party to an administrative order, administrative consent agreement, or judicial consent decree to comply with the requirements of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq. (3) Selection factors (A) In general In selecting the eligible municipalities to participate in the pilot program, the Administrator shall give priority to— (i) eligible municipalities that are operating under an administrative order, administrative consent agreement, or judicial consent decree to comply with the requirements of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq. (ii) eligible municipalities that are affected by affordability constraints in planning and implementing control measures to address wet weather discharges from wastewater and stormwater facilities of the eligible municipalities; and (iii) eligible municipalities with a history of knowledgeable, detailed, and comprehensive efforts to develop integrated and adaptive clean water management practices. (B) Use of adaptive management approaches In selecting eligible municipalities to participate in the pilot program, the Administrator may give priority to an eligible municipality that is seeking to develop and implement an integrated plan that includes adaptive approaches to account for changed or future uncertain circumstances, including— (i) the use of new innovative technical or institutional approaches; and (ii) the ability to adapt the integrated plan in response to new regulatory requirements and reductions in financial capability. (d) Approval of integrated plans (1) In general In approving the integrated plan of an eligible municipality under the pilot program established under subsection (a), the Administrator shall— (A) account for the financial capability of the eligible municipality to adequately address the requirements of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq. (B) prioritize the obligations of the eligible municipality under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq. (C) account for the maintenance, operational, and regulatory obligations of the eligible municipality; and (D) enable the eligible municipality to implement innovative and flexible approaches to meet the obligations of the eligible municipality under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq. (2) Additional authorities In carrying out the pilot program established under subsection (a), the Administrator may, in full coordination and mutual agreement with an eligible municipality selected to participate in the pilot program— (A) extend the allowable national pollutant discharge elimination system permit term under section 402 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1342 (B) modify the implementation terms of a consent decree entered into by the eligible municipality with the Administrator pursuant to that Act; and (C) provide additional regulatory flexibility under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq. (e) Report to Congress Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and each year thereafter for 5 years, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on the results of the pilot program established under subsection (a), including a description of the specific outcomes expected to be achieved that will reduce the costs of complying with the requirements of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq. (1) eligible municipalities participating in the pilot program; and (2) eligible municipalities that are similarly situated but not participating in the pilot program.

Summary: Clean Water Compliance and Affordability Act This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to carry out a pilot program to facilitate the efforts of eligible municipalities to develop and implement integrated plans to meet their wastewater and stormwater obligations under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) in a cost-effective and flexible manner and consistent with the Integrated Municipal Stormwater and Wastewater Approach Framework issued by the EPA in May 2012. The pilot program must facilitate the efforts of at least 15 municipalities. A municipality is eligible to participate in the pilot program if it is: (1) a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit holder or designee; or (2) a party to an administrative order, administrative consent agreement, or judicial consent decree to comply with the requirements of the Clean Water Act. The EPA must give priority to municipalities that: (1) are affected by affordability constraints in planning and implementing control measures addressing wet weather discharges from wastewater and stormwater facilities; and (2) have a history of knowledgeable, detailed, and comprehensive efforts to develop integrated and adaptive clean water management practices. The EPA may give priority to municipalities seeking to develop and implement an integrated plan that includes approaches that adapt to changed or future uncertain circumstances. With the mutual agreement of participating municipalities, the EPA may: (1) extend the allowable NPDES permit term by up to 25 years, (2) modify the implementation terms of a consent decree, and (3) provide additional regulatory flexibility in approving and implementing an integrated plan that includes adaptive approaches.