I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 6693 
To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to establish expedited 
permitting procedures for post-natural disaster recovery activities, incor-
porating interagency coordination and best management practices to en-
sure timely rebuilding while protecting endangered species, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 12, 2025 
Mr. MOORE of North Carolina (for himself and Mr. EDWARDS) 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 estab-
lish expedited permitting procedures for post-natural dis-
aster recovery activities, incorporating interagency co-
ordination and best management practices to ensure 
timely rebuilding while protecting endangered species, 
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 ‘‘Streamlining Author-
izations for Listed At-risk Marine and Aquatic Natural 
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Disaster Emergency Resources Act’’ or the ‘‘SALA-
MANDER Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Natural disasters cause significant damage 
to communities and infrastructure, requiring rapid 
and efficient recovery efforts. 
(2) Timely repair and restoration of damaged 
property and assets after a natural disaster are es-
sential for public safety, economic stability, and the 
swift return of private property to rightful owners. 
(3) The Corps of Engineers nationwide permit 
program serves as an efficient mechanism for man-
aging activities that involve discharges into and re-
habilitation of waters of the United States, as de-
fined in the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. 
(4) The Endangered Species Act of 1973 re-
quires Federal agencies to consult with the Directors 
of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and 
the National Marine Fisheries Service, as applicable, 
to avoid actions that could jeopardize listed species 
or critical habitats of such species. 
(5) While environmental protection is critical, 
current consultation processes can sometimes con-
tribute to delays in post-disaster recovery. 
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(6) A comprehensive, coordinated, and expe-
dited approach for post-disaster permitting that 
leverages the biological expertise of the United 
States Fish and Wildlife Service and the National 
Marine Fisheries Service, and incorporates approved 
best management practices, will reduce regulatory 
delays while maintaining robust environmental safe-
guards. 
SEC. 3. GENERAL PERMITS FOR DREDGED OR FILL MATE-
RIAL DISPOSAL IN POST-DISASTER RECOV-
ERY. 
Section 404(e) of the Federal Water Pollution Con-
trol Act (33 U.S.C. 1344(e)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(3) GENERAL
PERMITS
FOR
POST-DISASTER 
RECOVERY ACTIVITIES.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—For any geographic 
area with respect to which the President has 
declared under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) that a major disaster or 
emergency exists, the Secretary may issue or 
modify a general permit under this subsection 
for any category of activities— 
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‘‘(i) the Secretary develops pursuant 
to a programmatic consultation with the 
Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of 
Commerce, and Secretary of Agriculture, 
as applicable, under section 7(a)(2) of the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 
U.S.C. 1536(a)(2)); and 
‘‘(ii) which activities— 
‘‘(I) are directly related to recov-
ering from the major disaster or 
emergency; and 
‘‘(II) the Secretary of the Inte-
rior, Secretary of Commerce, and Sec-
retary of Agriculture, as applicable, 
have determined through such pro-
grammatic consultation will avoid or 
minimize adverse effects on any spe-
cies listed as a threatened species or 
an endangered species under section 4 
of the Endangered Species Act of 
1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533) and the crit-
ical habitat (as such term is defined 
in section 3 of the Endangered Spe-
cies Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1532)) of 
such a species when adhering to best 
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management practices described in 
subparagraph (B). 
‘‘(B) BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES.—A 
general permit issued or modified under this 
paragraph shall require the use of best manage-
ment practices that have been— 
‘‘(i) agreed upon by the Secretary 
and, as applicable, the Secretary of the In-
terior, Secretary of Commerce, and Sec-
retary of Agriculture; and 
‘‘(ii) designed to avoid or minimize 
adverse effects on species listed as threat-
ened species or endangered species under 
section 4 of the Endangered Species Act of 
1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533) and the critical 
habitat (as such term is defined in section 
3 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 
(16 U.S.C. 1532)) of such species. 
‘‘(C) PERIOD.—A general permit, or modi-
fication to a general permit, issued under this 
paragraph shall be for the period of 18 months 
beginning on the date of the declaration of the 
major disaster or emergency by the President. 
‘‘(D) EFFECT ON INDIVIDUAL CONSULTA-
TION.—An activity authorized by a general per-
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mit issued or modified under this paragraph 
and carried out in accordance with the require-
ments of such general permit is not subject to 
section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act 
of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(2)). 
‘‘(E) COORDINATION WITH STATES.—The 
Secretary shall coordinate with relevant State 
fish and wildlife agencies in carrying out this 
paragraph, including by engaging with such 
agencies not later than 30 days after the date 
of a declaration of a major disaster or emer-
gency by the President. 
‘‘(F) NATIONAL
GUIDANCE.—The Sec-
retary, in consultation with the Secretary of the 
Interior, the Secretary of Commerce, and the 
Secretary of Agriculture, shall establish guid-
ance to ensure consistent implementation of 
this paragraph across each district of the Corps 
of Engineers.’’. 
Æ 
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