Grassroots Rural and Small Community Water Systems Assistance Act

Bill: 113-s-864
Sponsor: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]
Introduced: 2013-05-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Executive agency funding and structure
Rural conditions and development
Water quality
Water resources funding
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2013-05-06
text: 
Grassroots Rural and Small Community Water Systems Assistance Act - Calls for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to prioritize the types of technical assistance to enable small public water systems to comply with national primary drinking water regulations that are the most beneficial to small and rural communities, based on their input.
 
Amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to: (1) authorize appropriations to the Administrator of EPA for FY2014-FY2019 for such assistance; and (2) allow the Administrator to use such funds to provide technical assistance to nonprofit organizations that provide to small public water systems onsite technical assistance, circuit-rider technical assistance programs, onsite and regional training, assistance with implementing source water protection plans, and assistance with implementing monitoring plans, rules, regulations, and water security enhancements. Directs the Administrator to give preference to nonprofit organizations that are determined to be the most qualified and experienced and that the small community water systems find to be the most beneficial and effective.

action_date: 2014-04-01
text: 
Grassroots Rural and Small Community Water Systems Assistance Act - Calls for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to prioritize the types of technical assistance to enable small public water systems to comply with national primary drinking water regulations that are the most beneficial to small and rural communities, based on their input.
 
Amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to: (1) authorize appropriations to the Administrator of EPA for FY2014-FY2019 for such assistance; and (2) allow the Administrator to use such funds to provide grants or cooperative agreements to nonprofit organizations that provide to small public water systems onsite technical assistance, circuit-rider and multistate regional technical assistance programs, onsite and regional training, assistance with implementing source water protection plans, and assistance with implementing monitoring plans, rules, regulations, and water security enhancements. Directs the Administrator to give preference to nonprofit organizations that are determined to be the most qualified and experienced and that the small community water systems find to be the most beneficial and effective.
 
Prohibits the use of such grants or cooperative agreements under the Act's research and technical assistance provisions for citizens' civil actions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-04-01
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 340.
action_date: 2014-04-01
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Boxer with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 113-142.
action_date: 2014-04-01
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Boxer with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 113-142.
action_date: 2014-02-06
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2013-05-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2013-05-06
text: Introduced in Senate