To require the Secretary of the Army and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to conduct a study analyzing the cost to permit applicants and permit holders of complying with sections 402 and 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, and for other purposes.
Bill: H.R.7771 | Sponsor: Rep. Rouzer, David (R-NC)
Policy area: Environmental Protection

Summary:
This bill requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency to study compliance costs for applicants and holders of certain permits for the discharge of pollutants or dredged or fill materials into waters.

To require the Secretary of the Army and the Administrator of the 
 Environmental Protection Agency to conduct a study analyzing the cost 
to permit applicants and permit holders of complying with sections 402 
   and 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. STUDY ON COST OF COMPLIANCE WITH PERMIT REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of 
Engineers, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency 
shall conduct a study analyzing the cost to permit applicants and 
permit holders of complying with sections 402 and 404 of the Federal 
Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1342 and 1344), including--
            (1) with respect to such section 402, costs associated with 
        applications, permitting time, compliance with effluent 
        limitations and best management practices, and monitoring; and
            (2) with respect to such section 404, costs associated with 
        applications, permitting time, impact avoidance and 
        minimization, and compensatory mitigation.
    (b) Contents of Study.--The study required under subsection (a) 
shall include an analysis, with respect to the 5 years prior to the 
date of enactment of this Act, of--
            (1) the total cost to all permit applicants and permit 
        holders of complying with sections 402 and 404 of the Federal 
        Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1342 and 1344);
            (2) the average cost to a permit applicant or permit holder 
        of complying with such sections, including such average cost in 
        each such year;
            (3) the cost to permit applicants and permit holders of 
        complying with such sections based on the type of permit 
        applicant or permit holder and the economic sector to which 
        such permit applicant or permit holder belongs; and
            (4) a comparison of such costs in urban and rural areas.
    (c) Submission.--Upon completion of the study required under 
subsection (a), the Secretary of the Army and the Administrator of the 
Environmental Protection Agency shall submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a report 
containing the results of such study.
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