Regulatory Integrity Protection Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-1732
Sponsor: Rep. Shuster, Bill [R-PA-9]
Introduced: 2015-04-13 in the House
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Army Corps of Engineers
Department of Defense
Economic performance and conditions
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental regulatory procedures
Intergovernmental relations
Lakes and rivers
Property rights
State and local government operations
Water quality
Wetlands

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-13
text: 

Regulatory Integrity Protection Act of 2015

 
This bill requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to withdraw, within 30 days, the proposed rule, &quot;Definition of 'Waters of the United States' Under the Clean Water Act,&quot; dated April 21, 2014, describing the water bodies that fall under the scope of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act), as well as any final rule based on the proposed rule.
 
The Army Corps and the EPA must develop a new proposed rule to define the term, &quot;waters of the United States&quot; as used in that Act. In developing the new rule, the Army Corps and the EPA must meet requirements concerning consultation with states and localities enumerated in this bill. The new rule must specifically identify those waters covered and not covered by the Clean Water Act and incorporate the areas and issues where consensus was reached by the interested parties.
 
The Army Corps and the EPA must prepare a report with details about the new proposed rule and its development, including: (1) explanations of how the rule addresses public comments filed on certain related rules and reports and addresses recommendations provided in the consultation process; and (2) comprehensive regulatory and economic impact analyses of how the rule will impact interested parties and each program under the Clean Water Act.
 
The Army Corps and the EPA must: (1) publish the report, a description of the areas and issues where consensus was reached with the state and local officials consulted, and the new proposed rule; and (2) make them available for public review and comment for at least 180 days.

action_date: 2015-04-27
text: 

Regulatory Integrity Protection Act of 2015

 
(Sec. 2) This bill requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to withdraw, within 30 days, the proposed rule, &quot;Definition of 'Waters of the United States' Under the Clean Water Act,&quot; dated April 21, 2014, describing the water bodies that fall under the scope of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act), as well as any final rule based on the proposed rule.
 
(Sec. 3) The Army Corps and the EPA must develop a new proposed rule to define the term, &quot;waters of the United States&quot; as used in that Act. In developing the new rule, the Army Corps and the EPA must meet requirements concerning consultation with states and localities enumerated in this bill. The new rule must specifically identify those waters covered and not covered by the Clean Water Act and incorporate the areas and issues where consensus was reached by the interested parties.
 
The Army Corps and the EPA must prepare a report with details about the new proposed rule and its development, including: (1) explanations of how the rule addresses public comments filed on certain related rules and reports and addresses recommendations provided in the consultation process; and (2) comprehensive regulatory and economic impact analyses of how the rule will impact interested parties and each program under the Clean Water Act.
 
The Army Corps and the EPA must: (1) publish the report, a description of the areas and issues where consensus was reached with the state and local officials consulted, and the new proposed rule; and (2) make them available for public review and comment for at least 180 days.

action_date: 2015-05-12
text: 

Regulatory Integrity Protection Act of 2015

 
(Sec. 2) This bill requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to withdraw, within 30 days, the proposed rule, &quot;Definition of 'Waters of the United States' Under the Clean Water Act,&quot; dated April 21, 2014, describing the water bodies that fall under the scope of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act), as well as any final rule based on the proposed rule.
 
(Sec. 3) The Army Corps and the EPA must develop a new proposed rule to define the term, &quot;waters of the United States&quot; as used in that Act. In developing the new rule, the Army Corps and the EPA must meet requirements concerning consultation with states and localities enumerated in this bill. The new rule must specifically identify those waters covered and not covered by the Clean Water Act and incorporate the areas and issues where consensus was reached by the interested parties.
 
The Army Corps and the EPA must prepare a report with details about the new proposed rule and its development, including: (1) explanations of how the rule addresses public comments filed on certain related rules and reports and addresses recommendations provided in the consultation process; and (2) comprehensive regulatory and economic impact analyses of how the rule will impact interested parties and each program under the Clean Water Act.
 
The Army Corps and the EPA must: (1) publish the report, a description of the areas and issues where consensus was reached with the state and local officials consulted, and the new proposed rule; and (2) make them available for public review and comment for at least 180 days.
 
(Sec. 5) Within 90 days of issuing a final rule to define the term, the EPA must determine whether each permit program administered by states under the Clean Water Act's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System program, the program to regulate the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States, and the program regulating the disposal of sewage sludge is in compliance with the rule. States are given two years to bring any noncompliant programs into compliance before the EPA withdraws approval of the state program. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2015-05-13
text: Received in the Senate.
action_date: 2015-05-12
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2015-05-12
text: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 261 - 155 (Roll no. 219).
action_date: 2015-05-12
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 261 - 155 (Roll no. 219).
action_date: 2015-05-12
text: On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 175 - 241 (Roll No. 218).
action_date: 2015-05-12
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with ten minutes of debate on the Aguilar motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to direct the Secretary of the Army and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to protect the quality and integrity of surface waters and wetlands in the rulemaking required by the underlying bill. The agencies must: (1) safeguard public water supplies, including the Great Lakes and other areas affected by algal blooms; (2) mitigate against the drought in California and other western States; (3) preserve water for agricultural purposes, including irrigation; and (4) alleviate potential adverse impacts of flooding and coastal storms.
action_date: 2015-05-12
text: Mr. Aguilar moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on Transportation. (consideration: CR H2852-2853; text: CR H2852)
action_date: 2015-05-12
text: The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
action_date: 2015-05-12
text: The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H2852)
action_date: 2015-05-12
text: The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 1732.
action_date: 2015-05-12
text: The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
action_date: 2015-05-12
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2851-2854)
action_date: 2015-05-12
text: Pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule 19, further consideration of H.R. 1732 was postponed.
action_date: 2015-05-12
text: The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 1732.
action_date: 2015-05-12
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 231, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Kildee Part B amendment no. 2.
action_date: 2015-05-12
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Edwards amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Edwards demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2015-05-12
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 231, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Edwards Part B amendment no. 1.
action_date: 2015-05-12
text: GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 1732. Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 231, the rule makes in order as original text for the purpose of amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text Rules Committee Print 114-13 modified by the amendment printed in Part A of the Rules Committee report.
action_date: 2015-05-12
text: The Speaker designated the Honorable David Young to act as Chairman of the Committee.
action_date: 2015-05-12
text: House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 231 and Rule XVIII.
action_date: 2015-05-12
text: Resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 1732, the conference report to accompany S. Con. Res. 11, and H.J. Res. 43.
action_date: 2015-05-12
text: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 231. (consideration: CR H2827-2840; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H2836-2837)
action_date: 2015-04-29
text: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 231 Reported to House. Resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 1732, the conference report to accompany S. Con. Res. 11, and H.J. Res. 43.
action_date: 2015-04-27
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 66.
action_date: 2015-04-27
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 114-93.
action_date: 2015-04-27
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 114-93.
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 36 - 22.
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Discharged.
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
action_date: 2015-04-13
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2015-04-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-04-13
text: Introduced in House