I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7861 
To require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to 
promulgate certain limitations with respect to pre-production plastic pel-
let pollution, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 20, 2022 
Mr. LOWENTHAL (for himself, Mr. DOGGETT, Mr. HUFFMAN, Ms. NORTON, 
and Mr. QUIGLEY) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To require the Administrator of the Environmental Protec-
tion Agency to promulgate certain limitations with re-
spect to pre-production plastic pellet pollution, 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 ‘‘Plastic Pellet Free 
Waters Act’’. 
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SEC. 
2. 
EFFLUENT 
LIMITATIONS 
FOR 
WASTEWATER, 
SPILLS, AND RUNOFF FROM PLASTIC POLY-
MER 
PRODUCTION 
FACILITIES, 
PLASTIC 
MOLDING AND FORMING FACILITIES, AND 
OTHER POINT SOURCES ASSOCIATED WITH 
THE TRANSPORT AND PACKAGING OF PLAS-
TIC PELLETS OR OTHER PRE-PRODUCTION 
PLASTIC MATERIALS. 
Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Pro-
tection Agency (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Admin-
istrator’’) shall promulgate a final rule to ensure that— 
(1) the discharge of plastic pellets or other pre- 
production plastic materials (including discharge 
into wastewater and other runoff) from facilities reg-
ulated under part 414 or 463 of title 40, Code of 
Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of en-
actment of this Act), is prohibited; 
(2) the discharge of plastic pellets or other pre- 
production plastic materials (including discharge 
into wastewater and other runoff) from a point 
source (as defined in section 502 of the Federal 
Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1362)) that 
makes, uses, packages, or transports those plastic 
pellets and other pre-production plastic materials is 
prohibited; and 
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(3) the requirements under paragraphs (1) and 
(2) are reflected in— 
(A) all wastewater, stormwater, and other 
permits issued by the Administrator and State- 
delegated programs under section 402 of the 
Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 
1342) to facilities and other point sources (as 
defined in section 502 of that Act (33 U.S.C. 
1362)) that make, use, package, or transport 
plastic pellets or other pre-production plastic 
materials, as determined by the Administrator, 
in addition to other applicable limits and stand-
ards; and 
(B) all standards of performance promul-
gated under section 312(p) of the Federal 
Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 
1322(p)) that are applicable to point sources 
(as defined in section 502 of that Act (33 
U.S.C. 1362)) that make, use, package, or 
transport plastic pellets or other pre-production 
plastic materials, as determined by the Admin-
istrator. 
Æ 
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