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(B) by striking subsection (c) and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(c) LANDS SUBJECT
TO LEASING UNDER SUB-
SECTION (b); FIRST QUALIFIED APPLICANT.— 
‘‘(1) If the lands to be leased are not leased 
under subsection (b)(1) of this section or are not 
subject to competitive leasing under subsection 
(b)(2) of this section, the person first making appli-
cation for the lease who is qualified to hold a lease 
under this chapter shall be entitled to a lease of 
such lands without competitive bidding, upon pay-
ment of a non-refundable application fee of at least 
$75. A lease under this subsection shall be condi-
tioned upon the payment of a royalty at a rate of 
12.5 percent in amount or value of the production 
removed or sold from the lease. Leases shall be 
issued within 60 days of the date on which the Sec-
retary identifies the first responsible qualified appli-
cant. 
‘‘(2)(A) Lands (i) which were posted for sale 
under subsection (b)(1) of this section but for which 
no bids were received or for which the highest bid 
was less than the national minimum acceptable bid 
and (ii) for which, at the end of the period referred 
to in subsection (b)(1) of this section no lease has 
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HR 2811 PCS
been issued and no lease application is pending 
under paragraph (1) of this subsection, shall again 
be available for leasing only in accordance with sub-
section (b)(1) of this section. 
‘‘(B) The land in any lease which is issued 
under paragraph (1) of this subsection or under sub-
section (b)(1) of this section which lease terminates, 
expires, is cancelled or is relinquished shall again be 
available for leasing only in accordance with sub-
section (b)(1) of this section.’’; and 
(C) by striking subsection (e) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(e) PRIMARY TERM.—Competitive and noncompeti-
tive leases issued under this section shall be for a primary 
term of 10 years: Provided, however, That competitive 
leases issued in special tar sand areas shall also be for 
a primary term of 10 years. Each such lease shall continue 
so long after its primary term as oil or gas is produced 
in paying quantities. Any lease issued under this section 
for land on which, or for which under an approved cooper-
ative or unit plan of development or operation, actual drill-
ing operations were commenced prior to the end of its pri-
mary term and are being diligently prosecuted at that time 
shall be extended for two years and so long thereafter as 
oil or gas is produced in paying quantities.’’. 
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HR 2811 PCS
(6) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 31 of 
the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 188) is amend-
ed— 
(A) in subsection (d)(1), by striking ‘‘sec-
tion 17(b)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (b) or (c) 
of section 17 of this Act’’; 
(B) in subsection (e)— 
(i) in paragraph (2)— 
(I) insert ‘‘either’’ after ‘‘rentals 
and’’; and 
(II) insert ‘‘or the inclusion in a 
reinstated lease issued pursuant to the 
provisions of section 17(c) of this Act 
of a requirement that future rentals 
shall be at a rate not less than $5 per 
acre per year, all’’ before ‘‘as deter-
mined by the Secretary’’; and 
(ii) by amending paragraph (3) to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(3)(A) payment of back royalties and the in-
clusion in a reinstated lease issued pursuant to the 
provisions of section 17(b) of this Act of a require-
ment for future royalties at a rate of not less than 
162⁄3 percent computed on a sliding scale based 
upon the average production per well per day, at a 
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HR 2811 PCS
rate which shall be not less than 4 percentage points 
greater than the competitive royalty schedule then in 
force and used for royalty determination for com-
petitive leases issued pursuant to such section as de-
termined by the Secretary: Provided, That royalty 
on such reinstated lease shall be paid on all produc-
tion removed or sold from such lease subsequent to 
the termination of the original lease; 
‘‘(B) payment of back royalties and inclusion in 
a reinstated lease issued pursuant to the provisions 
of section 17(c) of this Act of a requirement for fu-
ture royalties at a rate not less than 162⁄3 percent: 
Provided, That royalty on such reinstated lease shall 
be paid on all production removed or sold from such 
lease subsequent to the cancellation or termination 
of the original lease; and’’; 
(C) in subsection (f)— 
(i) in paragraph (1), strike ‘‘in the 
same manner as the original lease issued 
pursuant to section 17’’ and insert ‘‘as a 
competitive or a noncompetitive oil and gas 
lease in the same manner as the original 
lease issued pursuant to subsection (b) or 
(c) of section 17 of this Act’’; 
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HR 2811 PCS
(ii) by redesignating paragraphs (2) 
and (3) as paragraph (3) and (4), respec-
tively; and 
(iii) by inserting after paragraph (1) 
the following: 
‘‘(2) Except as otherwise provided in this sec-
tion, the issuance of a lease in lieu of an abandoned 
patented oil placer mining claim shall be treated as 
a noncompetitive oil and gas lease issued pursuant 
to section 17(c) of this Act.’’; 
(D) in subsection (g), by striking ‘‘sub-
section (d)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsections (d) and 
(f)’’; 
(E) by amending subsection (h) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(h) ROYALTY REDUCTIONS.— 
‘‘(1) In acting on a petition to issue a non-
competitive oil and gas lease, under subsection (f) of 
this section or in response to a request filed after 
issuance of such a lease, or both, the Secretary is 
authorized to reduce the royalty on such lease if in 
his judgment it is equitable to do so or the cir-
cumstances warrant such relief due to uneconomic 
or other circumstances which could cause undue 
hardship or premature termination of production. 
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HR 2811 PCS
‘‘(2) In acting on a petition for reinstatement 
pursuant to subsection (d) of this section or in re-
sponse to a request filed after reinstatement, or 
both, the Secretary is authorized to reduce the roy-
alty in that reinstated lease on the entire leasehold 
or any tract or portion thereof segregated for royalty 
purposes if, in his judgment, there are uneconomic 
or other circumstances which could cause undue 
hardship or premature termination of production; or 
because of any written action of the United States, 
its agents or employees, which preceded, and was a 
major consideration in, the lessee’s expenditure of 
funds to develop the property under the lease after 
the rent had become due and had not been paid; or 
if in the judgment of the Secretary it is equitable to 
do so for any reason.’’; 
(F) 
by 
redesignating 
subsections 
(f) 
through (i) as subsections (g) through (j), re-
spectively; and 
(G) by inserting after subsection (e) the 
following: 
‘‘(f) ISSUANCE OF NONCOMPETITIVE OIL AND GAS 
LEASE; CONDITIONS.—Where an unpatented oil placer 
mining claim validly located prior to February 24, 1920, 
which has been or is currently producing or is capable of 
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HR 2811 PCS
producing oil or gas, has been or is hereafter deemed con-
clusively abandoned for failure to file timely the required 
instruments or copies of instruments required by section 
1744 of title 43, and it is shown to the satisfaction of 
the Secretary that such failure was inadvertent, justifi-
able, or not due to lack of reasonable diligence on the part 
of the owner, the Secretary may issue, for the lands cov-
ered by the abandoned unpatented oil placer mining claim, 
a noncompetitive oil and gas lease, consistent with the pro-
visions of section 17(e) of this Act, to be effective from 
the statutory date the claim was deemed conclusively 
abandoned. Issuance of such a lease shall be conditioned 
upon: 
‘‘(1) a petition for issuance of a noncompetitive 
oil and gas lease, together with the required rental 
and royalty, including back rental and royalty accru-
ing from the statutory date of abandonment of the 
oil placer mining claim, being filed with the 
Secretary- (A) with respect to any claim deemed 
conclusively abandoned on or before January 12, 
1983, on or before the one hundred and twentieth 
day after January 12, 1983, or (B) with respect to 
any claim deemed conclusively abandoned after Jan-
uary 12, 1983, on or before the one hundred and 
twentieth day after final notification by the Sec-
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HR 2811 PCS
retary or a court of competent jurisdiction of the de-
termination of the abandonment of the oil placer 
mining claim; 
‘‘(2) a valid lease not having been issued affect-
ing any of the lands covered by the abandoned oil 
placer mining claim prior to the filing of such peti-
tion: Provided, however, That after the filing of a 
petition for issuance of a lease under this subsection, 
the Secretary shall not issue any new lease affecting 
any of the lands covered by such abandoned oil plac-
er mining claim for a reasonable period, as deter-
mined in accordance with regulations issued by him; 
‘‘(3) a requirement in the lease for payment of 
rental, including back rentals accruing from the 
statutory date of abandonment of the oil placer min-
ing claim, of not less than $5 per acre per year; 
‘‘(4) a requirement in the lease for payment of 
royalty on production removed or sold from the oil 
placer mining claim, including all royalty on produc-
tion made subsequent to the statutory date the claim 
was deemed conclusively abandoned, of not less than 
121⁄2 percent; and 
‘‘(5) compliance with the notice and reimburse-
ment of costs provisions of paragraph (4) of sub-
section (e) but addressed to the petition covering the 
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HR 2811 PCS
conversion of an abandoned unpatented oil placer 
mining claim to a noncompetitive oil and gas lease.’’. 
Subtitle F—Energy Revenue 
Sharing 
SEC. 20601. GULF OF MEXICO OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF 
REVENUE. 
(a) DISTRIBUTION OF OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF 
REVENUE TO GULF PRODUCING STATES.—Section 105 of 
the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 (43 
U.S.C. 1331 note) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘50’’ and 
inserting ‘‘37.5’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘50’’ and inserting 
‘‘62.5’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘75’’ and inserting ‘‘80’’; and 
(iii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘25’’ and inserting ‘‘20’’; and 
(2) by striking subsection (f) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(f) TREATMENT OF AMOUNTS.—Amounts disbursed 
to a Gulf producing State under this section shall be treat-
ed as revenue sharing and not as a Federal award or grant 
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for the purposes of part 200 of title 2, Code of Federal 
Regulations.’’. 
(b) EXEMPTION OF CERTAIN PAYMENTS FROM SE-
QUESTRATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 255(g)(1)(A) of the 
Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control 
Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 905(g)(1)(A)) is amended by 
inserting after ‘‘Payments to Social Security Trust 
Funds (28–0404–0–1–651).’’ the following: 
‘‘Payments to States pursuant to section 
105(a)(2)(A) of the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security 
Act of 2006 (Public Law 109–432; 43 U.S.C. 1331 
note) (014–5535–0–2–302).’’. 
(2) APPLICABILITY.—The amendment made by 
this subsection shall apply to any sequestration 
order issued under the Balanced Budget and Emer-
gency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 900 et 
seq.) on or after the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 20602. PARITY IN OFFSHORE WIND REVENUE SHAR-
ING. 
(a) PAYMENTS AND REVENUES.—Section 8(p)(2) of 
the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 
1337(p)(2)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘(A) The 
Secretary’’ and inserting the following: 
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‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graphs (B) and (C), the Secretary’’; 
(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘(B) The 
Secretary’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(B) DISPOSITION
OF
REVENUES
FOR 
PROJECTS LOCATED WITHIN 3 NAUTICAL MILES 
SEAWARD OF STATE SUBMERGED LAND.—The 
Secretary’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(C) DISPOSITION OF REVENUES FOR OFF-
SHORE WIND PROJECTS IN CERTAIN AREAS.— 
‘‘(i) DEFINITIONS.—In this subpara-
graph: 
‘‘(I) COVERED OFFSHORE WIND 
PROJECT.—The term ‘covered off-
shore wind project’ means a wind 
powered electric generation project in 
a wind energy area on the outer Con-
tinental Shelf that is not wholly or 
partially located within an area sub-
ject to subparagraph (B). 
‘‘(II) 
ELIGIBLE
STATE.—The 
term ‘eligible State’ means a State a 
point on the coastline of which is lo-
cated within 75 miles of the geo-
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HR 2811 PCS
graphic center of a covered offshore 
wind project. 
‘‘(III) QUALIFIED OUTER CONTI-
NENTAL
SHELF
REVENUES.—The 
term 
‘qualified 
outer 
Continental 
Shelf revenues’ means all royalties, 
fees, rentals, bonuses, or other pay-
ments from covered offshore wind 
projects carried out pursuant to this 
subsection on or after the date of en-
actment of this subparagraph. 
‘‘(ii) REQUIREMENT.— 
‘‘(I) IN
GENERAL.—The Sec-
retary of the Treasury shall deposit— 
‘‘(aa) 12.5 percent of quali-
fied outer Continental Shelf reve-
nues in the general fund of the 
Treasury; 
‘‘(bb) 37.5 percent of quali-
fied outer Continental Shelf reve-
nues in the North American Wet-
lands Conservation Fund; and 
‘‘(cc) 50 percent of qualified 
outer Continental Shelf revenues 
in a special account in the Treas-
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HR 2811 PCS
ury from which the Secretary 
shall disburse to each eligible 
State an amount determined pur-
suant to subclause (II). 
‘‘(II) ALLOCATION.— 
‘‘(aa) IN
GENERAL.—Sub-
ject to item (bb), for each fiscal 
year beginning after the date of 
enactment of this subparagraph, 
the amount made available under 
subclause (I)(cc) shall be allo-
cated to each eligible State in 
amounts (based on a formula es-
tablished by the Secretary by 
regulation) that are inversely 
proportional to the respective dis-
tances between the point on the 
coastline of each eligible State 
that is closest to the geographic 
center of the applicable leased 
tract and the geographic center 
of the leased tract. 
‘‘(bb) 
MINIMUM
ALLOCA-
TION.—The amount allocated to 
an eligible State each fiscal year 
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under item (aa) shall be at least 
10 percent of the amounts made 
available under subclause (I)(cc). 
‘‘(cc) PAYMENTS TO COAST-
AL POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS.— 
‘‘(AA) IN
GENERAL.— 
The Secretary shall pay 20 
percent 
of 
the 
allocable 
share of each eligible State, 
as determined pursuant to 
item (aa), to the coastal po-
litical subdivisions of the eli-
gible State. 
‘‘(BB) ALLOCATION.— 
The amount paid by the 
Secretary to coastal political 
subdivisions under subitem 
(AA) shall be allocated to 
each coastal political sub-
division in accordance with 
subparagraphs (B) and (C) 
of section 31(b)(4) of this 
Act. 
‘‘(iii) TIMING.—The amounts required 
to be deposited under subclause (I) of 
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HR 2811 PCS
clause (ii) for the applicable fiscal year 
shall be made available in accordance with 
such subclause during the fiscal year im-
mediately following the applicable fiscal 
year. 
‘‘(iv) AUTHORIZED USES.— 
‘‘(I) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to 
subclause (II), each eligible State 
shall use all amounts received under 
clause (ii)(II) in accordance with all 
applicable Federal and State laws, 
only for 1 or more of the following 
purposes: 
‘‘(aa) Projects and activities 
for the purposes of coastal pro-
tection and resiliency, including 
conservation, coastal restoration, 
estuary 
management, 
beach 
nourishment, hurricane and flood 
protection, and infrastructure di-
rectly affected by coastal wetland 
losses. 
‘‘(bb) Mitigation of damage 
to fish, wildlife, or natural re-
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sources, including through fish-
eries science and research. 
‘‘(cc) Implementation of a 
federally approved marine, coast-
al, or comprehensive conservation 
management plan. 
‘‘(dd) Mitigation of the im-
pact of outer Continental Shelf 
activities through the funding of 
onshore infrastructure projects. 
‘‘(ee) Planning assistance 
and the administrative costs of 
complying with this section. 
‘‘(ff) Infrastructure improve-
ments at ports, including modi-
fications to Federal navigation 
channels, to support installation 
of offshore wind energy projects. 
‘‘(II) 
LIMITATION.—Of 
the 
amounts received by an eligible State 
under clause (ii)(II), not more than 3 
percent shall be used for the purposes 
described in subclause (I)(ee). 
‘‘(v) ADMINISTRATION.—Subject to 
clause (vi)(III), amounts made available 
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under items (aa) and (cc) of clause (ii)(I) 
shall— 
‘‘(I) be made available, without 
further appropriation, in accordance 
with this subparagraph; 
‘‘(II) remain available until ex-
pended; and 
‘‘(III) be in addition to any 
amount appropriated under any other 
Act. 
‘‘(vi) REPORTING REQUIREMENT.— 
‘‘(I) IN
GENERAL.—Not later 
than 180 days after the end of each 
fiscal year, the Governor of each eligi-
ble State that receives amounts under 
clause (ii)(II) for the applicable fiscal 
year shall submit to the Secretary a 
report that describes the use of the 
amounts by the eligible State during 
the period covered by the report. 
‘‘(II) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—On 
receipt of a report submitted under 
subclause (I), the Secretary shall 
make the report available to the pub-
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HR 2811 PCS
lic on the website of the Department 
of the Interior. 
‘‘(III) LIMITATION.—If the Gov-
ernor of an eligible State that receives 
amounts under clause (ii)(II) fails to 
submit the report required under sub-
clause (I) by the deadline specified in 
that subclause, any amounts that 
would otherwise be provided to the eli-
gible State under clause (ii)(II) for 
the succeeding fiscal year shall be de-
posited in the Treasury. 
‘‘(vii) TREATMENT
OF
AMOUNTS.— 
Amounts disbursed to an eligible State 
under this subsection shall be treated as 
revenue sharing and not as a Federal 
award or grant for the purposes of part 
200 of title 2, Code of Federal Regula-
tions.’’. 
(b) WIND LEASE SALES FOR AREAS OF THE OUTER 
CONTINENTAL SHELF OFFSHORE OF TERRITORIES OF 
THE UNITED STATES.—Section 33 of the Outer Conti-
nental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1356c) is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
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‘‘(b) WIND LEASE SALE PROCEDURE.—Any wind 
lease granted pursuant to this section shall be considered 
a wind lease granted under section 8(p), including for pur-
poses of the disposition of revenues pursuant to subpara-
graphs (B) and (C) of section 8(p)(2).’’. 
(c) EXEMPTION OF CERTAIN PAYMENTS FROM SE-
QUESTRATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 255(g)(1)(A) of the 
Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control 
Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 905(g)(1)(A)) is amended by 
inserting after ‘‘Payments to Social Security Trust 
Funds (28–0404–0–1–651).’’ the following: 
‘‘Payments to States pursuant to subparagraph 
(C)(ii)(I)(cc) of section 8(p)(2) of the Outer Conti-
nental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337(p)(2)).’’. 
(2) APPLICABILITY.—The amendment made by 
this subsection shall apply to any sequestration 
order issued under the Balanced Budget and Emer-
gency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 900 et 
seq.) on or after the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 20603. ELIMINATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE FEE UNDER 
THE MINERAL LEASING ACT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 35 of the Mineral Leasing 
Act (30 U.S.C. 191) is amended— 
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(1) in subsection (a), in the first sentence, by 
striking ‘‘and, subject to the provisions of subsection 
(b),’’; 
(2) by striking subsection (b); 
(3) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as 
subsections (b) and (c), respectively; 
(4) in paragraph (3)(B)(ii) of subsection (b) (as 
so redesignated), by striking ‘‘subsection (d)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘subsection (c)’’; and 
(5) in paragraph (3)(A)(ii) of subsection (c) (as 
so redesignated), by striking ‘‘subsection (c)(2)(B)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘subsection (b)(2)(B)’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) Section 6(a) of the Mineral Leasing Act for 
Acquired Lands (30 U.S.C. 355(a)) is amended— 
(A) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘Sub-
ject to the provisions of section 35(b) of the 
Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 191(b)), all’’ 
and inserting ‘‘All’’; and 
(B) in the second sentence, by striking ‘‘of 
the Act of February 25, 1920 (41 Stat. 450; 30 
U.S.C. 191),’’ and inserting ‘‘of the Mineral 
Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 191)’’. 
(2) Section 20(a) of the Geothermal Steam Act 
of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1019(a)) is amended, in the sec-
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ond sentence of the matter preceding paragraph (1), 
by striking ‘‘the provisions of subsection (b) of sec-
tion 35 of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 
191(b)) and section 5(a)(2) of this Act’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘section 5(a)(2)’’. 
(3) Section 205(f) of the Federal Oil and Gas 
Royalty Management Act of 1982 (30 U.S.C. 
1735(f)) is amended— 
(A) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘this 
Section’’ and inserting ‘‘this section’’; and 
(B) by striking the fourth, fifth, and sixth 
sentences. 
SEC. 20604. SUNSET. 
This subtitle, and the amendments made by this sub-
title, shall cease to have effect on September 30, 2032, 
and on such date the provisions of law amended by this 
subtitle shall be restored or revived as if this subtitle had 
not been enacted. 
TITLE III—WATER QUALITY CER-
TIFICATION 
AND 
ENERGY 
PROJECT IMPROVEMENT 
SEC. 30001. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Water Quality Certifi-
cation and Energy Project Improvement Act of 2023’’. 
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SEC. 30002. CERTIFICATION. 
Section 401 of the Federal Water Pollution Control 
Act (33 U.S.C. 1341) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in the first sentence, by striking 
‘‘may result’’ and inserting ‘‘may directly 
result’’; 
(ii) in the second sentence, by striking 
‘‘activity’’ and inserting ‘‘discharge’’; 
(iii) in the third sentence, by striking 
‘‘applications’’ each place it appears and 
inserting ‘‘requests’’; 
(iv) in the fifth sentence, by striking 
‘‘act on’’ and inserting ‘‘grant or deny’’; 
and 
(v) by inserting after the fourth sen-
tence the following: ‘‘Not later than 30 
days after the date of enactment of the 
Water Quality Certification and Energy 
Project Improvement Act of 2023, each 
State and interstate agency that has au-
thority to give such a certification, and the 
Administrator, shall publish requirements 
for certification to demonstrate to such 
State, such interstate agency, or the Ad-
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ministrator, as the case may be, compli-
ance with the applicable provisions of sec-
tions 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307. A deci-
sion to grant or deny a request for certifi-
cation shall be based only on the applicable 
provisions of sections 301, 302, 303, 306, 
and 307, and the grounds for the decision 
shall be set forth in writing and provided 
to the applicant. Not later than 90 days 
after receipt of a request for certification, 
the State, interstate agency, or Adminis-
trator, as the case may be, shall identify in 
writing all specific additional materials or 
information that are necessary to grant or 
deny the request.’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in the second sentence, by striking 
‘‘notice of application for such Federal li-
cense or permit’’ and inserting ‘‘receipt of 
a notice under the preceding sentence’’; 
(ii) in the third sentence, by striking 
‘‘any water quality requirement’’ and in-
serting ‘‘any applicable provision of section 
301, 302, 303, 306, or 307’’; 
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(iii) in the fifth sentence, by striking 
‘‘insure compliance with applicable water 
quality requirements.’’ and inserting ‘‘en-
sure compliance with the applicable provi-
sions of sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 
307.’’; 
(iv) in the final sentence, by striking 
‘‘insure’’ and inserting ‘‘ensure’’; and 
(v) by striking the first sentence and 
inserting ‘‘On receipt of a request for cer-
tification, the certifying State or interstate 
agency, as applicable, shall immediately 
notify the Administrator of the request.’’; 
(C) in paragraph (3), in the second sen-
tence, by striking ‘‘section’’ and inserting ‘‘any 
applicable provision of section’’; 
(D) in paragraph (4)— 
(i) in the first sentence, by striking 
‘‘applicable effluent limitations or other 
limitations or other applicable water qual-
ity requirements will not be violated’’ and 
inserting ‘‘no applicable provision of sec-
tion 301, 302, 303, 306, or 307 will be vio-
lated’’; 
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(ii) in the second sentence, by striking 
‘‘will violate applicable effluent limitations 
or other limitations or other water quality 
requirements’’ and inserting ‘‘will directly 
result in a discharge that violates an appli-
cable provision of section 301, 302, 303, 
306, or 307,’’; and 
(iii) in the third sentence, by striking 
‘‘such facility or activity will not violate the 
applicable provisions’’ and inserting ‘‘oper-
ation of such facility or activity will not di-
rectly result in a discharge that violates 
any applicable provision’’; and 
(E) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘the ap-
plicable provisions’’ and inserting ‘‘any applica-
ble provision’’; 
(2) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘any applica-
ble effluent limitations and other limitations, under 
section 301 or 302 of this Act, standard of perform-
ance under section 306 of this Act, or prohibition, 
effluent standard, or pretreatment standard under 
section 307 of this Act, and with any other appro-
priate requirement of State law set forth in such 
certification, and’’ and inserting ‘‘the applicable pro-
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visions of sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307, and 
any such limitations or requirements’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(e) For purposes of this section, the applicable pro-
visions of sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307 are any 
applicable effluent limitations and other limitations, under 
section 301 or 302, standard of performance under section 
306, prohibition, effluent standard, or pretreatment stand-
ard under section 307, and requirement of State law im-
plementing water quality criteria under section 303 nec-
essary to support the designated use or uses of the receiv-
ing navigable waters.’’. 
SEC. 30003. FEDERAL GENERAL PERMITS. 
Section 402(a) of the Federal Water Pollution Con-
trol Act (33 U.S.C. 1342(a)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(6)(A) The Administrator is authorized to issue gen-
eral permits under this section for discharges of similar 
types from similar sources. 
‘‘(B) The Administrator may require submission of 
a notice of intent to be covered under a general permit 
issued under this section, including additional information 
that the Administrator determines necessary. 
‘‘(C) If a general permit issued under this section will 
expire and the Administrator decides not to issue a new 
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general permit for discharges similar to those covered by 
the expiring general permit, the Administrator shall pub-
lish in the Federal Register a notice of such decision at 
least two years prior to the expiration of the general per-
mit. 
‘‘(D) If a general permit issued under this section 
expires and the Administrator has not published a notice 
in accordance with subparagraph (C), until such time as 
the Administrator issues a new general permit for dis-
charges similar to those covered by the expired general 
permit, the Administrator shall— 
‘‘(i) continue to apply the terms, conditions, 
and requirements of the expired general permit to 
any discharge that was covered by the expired gen-
eral permit; and 
‘‘(ii) apply such terms, conditions, and require-
ments to any discharge that would have been cov-
ered by the expired general permit (in accordance 
with any relevant requirements for such coverage) if 
the discharge had occurred before such expiration.’’. 
DIVISION E—INCREASE IN DEBT 
LIMIT 
SEC. 40001. LIMITED SUSPENSION OF DEBT CEILING. 
(a) SUSPENSION.—Section 3101(b) of title 31, 
United States Code, shall not apply during the period be-
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ginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and end-
ing on the applicable date. 
(b) DOLLAR LIMITATION
ON SUSPENSION.—Sub-
section (a) shall not apply to the extent that the applica-
tion of such subsection would result in the face amount 
of obligations subject to limitation under section 3101(b) 
of title 31, United States Code, to exceed the sum of— 
(1) the dollar limitation in effect under such 
section on the date of the enactment of this Act, in-
creased by 
(2) $1,500,000,000,000. 
(c) APPLICABLE DATE.—For purposes of this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘applicable date’’ means the earlier of— 
(1) March 31, 2024, or 
(2) the first date on which subsection (a) does 
not apply by reason of subsection (b). 
(d) SPECIAL RULE RELATING
TO OBLIGATIONS 
ISSUED DURING SUSPENSION PERIOD.—Effective as of 
the close of the applicable date, the dollar limitation in 
section 3101(b) of title 31, United States Code, is in-
creased to the extent that— 
(1) the face amount of obligations subject to 
limitation under such section outstanding as of the 
close of the applicable date, exceeds 
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(2) the face amount of such obligations out-
standing on the date of the enactment of this Act. 
An obligation shall not be taken into account under para-
graph (1) unless the issuance of such obligation was nec-
essary to fund a commitment incurred by the Federal Gov-
ernment that required payment on or before the applicable 
date. 
Passed the House of Representatives April 26, 2023. 
Attest: 
CHERYL L. JOHNSON, 
Clerk. 
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Calendar No. 41 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 2811 
AN ACT 
To provide for a responsible increase to the debt 
ceiling, and for other purposes. 
MAY 2, 2023 
Read the second time and placed on the calendar 
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