I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1990 
To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to prohibit certain dis-
charges of dredged material into the Great Lakes System, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 23, 2015 
Mr. LATTA (for himself and Ms. KAPTUR) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to pro-
hibit certain discharges of dredged material into the 
Great Lakes System, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Protecting Our Great 
Lakes Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON DISCHARGES OF DREDGED MATE-
RIAL INTO GREAT LAKES SYSTEM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 404 of the Federal Water 
Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1344) is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(u) PROHIBITION ON DISCHARGES OF DREDGED 
MATERIAL INTO GREAT LAKES SYSTEM.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as otherwise specifi-
cally provided by this subsection, beginning on the 
date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of 
this subsection, a discharge of dredged material into 
the Great Lakes System is prohibited. 
‘‘(2) EXCEPTIONS.—Paragraph (1) shall not 
apply to any of the following: 
‘‘(A) A discharge of dredged material into 
a confined disposal facility, including a confined 
disposal island. 
‘‘(B) A discharge of dredged material in 
connection with— 
‘‘(i) beneficial use; or 
‘‘(ii) habitat establishment, improve-
ment, or restoration (or any combination 
thereof). 
‘‘(3) TEMPORARY WAIVERS.—The Secretary (or 
a State with an approved permit program under this 
section) may waive application of the prohibition es-
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tablished by paragraph (1) during the 2-year period 
beginning on the effective date of the prohibition 
specified in paragraph (1) with respect to a dis-
charge if— 
‘‘(A) the Administrator or State, as appro-
priate, determines that the waiver is necessary 
and appropriate; and 
‘‘(B) in the case of a waiver issued by the 
Secretary, each concerned State, as identified 
by the Secretary, reviews and approves the 
waiver. 
‘‘(4) CONSULTATION WITH STATES.—The Sec-
retary shall consult with concerned States in the im-
plementation of this subsection. 
‘‘(5) GREAT LAKES SYSTEM DEFINED.—In this 
subsection, the term ‘Great Lakes System’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 118(a)(3) of the 
Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 
1268(a)(3)).’’. 
(b) COST ANALYSIS FOR OPERATIONS AND MAINTE-
NANCE ACTIVITIES IN GREAT LAKES SYSTEM.—In deter-
mining, pursuant to section 335.4 of title 33, Code of Fed-
eral Regulations (or any successor regulation), the least 
costly manner, and the least costly and most practicable 
location, for discharges of dredged material resulting from 
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operations and maintenance activities of the Corps of En-
gineers in the Great Lakes System, the Secretary of the 
Army shall exclude from consideration the use of open- 
water placement of dredged material. 
(c) LIMITATION ON STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.— 
Nothing in this section, including the amendment made 
by section (a), may be construed to limit or otherwise af-
fect the existing responsibilities of the Corps of Engi-
neers— 
(1) to dredge United States harbors and navi-
gation channels and dispose of dredged material; 
and 
(2) to provide, within its budget, for the full 
cost of the disposal of dredged material, including 
costs to comply with the requirements of this sec-
tion, including the amendment made by subsection 
(a). 
Æ 
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