Green Stormwater Infrastructure Investment Act

Bill: 114-hr-4648
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Kilmer, Derek [D-WA-6]
Introduced: 2016-02-29
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Aquatic ecology

Hydrology and hydrography

Lakes and rivers

Licensing and registrations

Public transit

Transportation programs funding

Water quality

Wetlands
Latest action: action_date: 2016-03-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

Summaries:
action_date: 2016-02-29
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Green Stormwater Infrastructure Investment Act</b></p> <p>This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to assist state, tribal, and local governments toinvest in green stormwater infrastructure.Green stormwater infrastructure is a stormwater management technique that uses natural or engineered systems designed to promote the uptake and filtration of stormwater at its source to protect habitats and reduce flood risks.</p> <p>The bill establishes a 20% reserve within each state's Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund for installation, operation, and maintenance of green stormwater infrastructure.</p> <p>The Department of Transportation must prioritize projects that include green stormwater infrastructure for competitive federal transportation infrastructure grants.</p> <p>The bill also authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency to extend National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits for green stormwater infrastructure systems for up to 10 years.</p>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4648 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 29, 2016 Mr. Kilmer (for himself and Mr. Heck of Washington ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To provide incentives for investment in green stormwater infrastructure, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Green Stormwater Infrastructure Investment Act . 2. Definition Section 502 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1362 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (27) Green stormwater infrastructure (A) In general The term green storm­wa­ter infrastructure means any storm­wa­ter management technique that— (i) uses natural systems or engineered systems that mimic natural processes to infiltrate, evapotranspire, or filter stormwater; and (ii) preserves, enhances, or mimics natural hydrology to protect or restore water quality. (B) Inclusions The term green stormwater infrastructure includes— (i) systems that promote absorption, uptake, evapotranspiration, filtration by soil and plant life, and stormwater system resiliency, such as bioretention, permeable pavements, green roofs, and natural vegetation; and (ii) the preservation or restoration of— (I) interconnected networks of natural land or topography that protect essential ecological functions critical for water quality; (II) ecological function, including forests, grasslands, and deserts; (III) bodies of water, including lakes, rivers, flood plains, headwaters, creeks, wetlands, estuaries, and sounds; and (IV) native soil characteristics of composition, structure, and trans­mis­siv­i­ty. . 3. Green stormwater infrastructure reserve Title VI of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1381 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following: 609. Green stormwater infrastructure reserve (a) In general To the extent there are sufficient eligible project applications, not less than 20 percent of the funds made available under this title to each State shall be used by the State for projects that are otherwise eligible under this title and include a green stormwater infrastructure component. (b) Operation and maintenance Funds reserved under this section may be used for operation and maintenance costs of green stormwater infrastructure constructed using funds reserved under this section. . 4. Public transportation projects (a) In general Chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 5341. Priority for green stormwater infrastructure projects (a) In general In selecting public transportation infrastructure projects to receive financial assistance under this chapter or any other provision of law, the Secretary shall prioritize projects that include green stormwater infrastructure, as defined in section 502 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1362 ). (b) TIGER grant program The projects referred to in subsection (a) include projects selected under the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery competitive grant program. . (b) Clerical amendment The analysis for chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 5341. Priority for green stormwater infrastructure projects. . 5. Permitting green stormwater infrastructure Section 402 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1342 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (s) Green stormwater infrastructure Notwithstanding subsection (b)(1)(B), a permit under this section for green stormwater infrastructure may be for a term not to exceed 10 years. .