A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to establish a pilot competitive grant program for improving the sharing of water quality data, and for other purposes.

Bill: 116-s-2767
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Jones, Doug [D-AL]
Introduced: 2019-10-31
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Government information and archives

State and local government operations

Water quality

Water resources funding

Water use and supply

Watersheds
Latest action: action_date: 2019-10-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-10-31
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a pilot program that awards grants to certain states for the creation of systems that improve the sharing of information concerning water quality, sources of water pollution, and water infrastructure needs among local governments.</p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2767 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES October 31, 2019 Mr. Jones (for himself and Mr. Scott of Florida ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works A BILL To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to establish a pilot competitive grant program for improving the sharing of water quality data, and for other purposes.

1. Water quality data sharing pilot program Title V of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act is amended— (1) by redesignating section 520 ( 33 U.S.C. 1251 note) as section 521; and (2) by inserting after section 519 ( 33 U.S.C. 1377a ) the following: 520. Water quality data sharing pilot program (a) Establishment The Administrator shall establish a competitive grant pilot program (referred to in this section as the pilot program ) under which the Administrator may award grants to eligible States under subsection (b) to establish systems that improve the sharing of information concerning water quality, sources of water pollution, and water infrastructure needs among counties and other units of local government of the State, which may include— (1) establishing a website or data hub to exchange water quality data; and (2) inter-county communications initiatives related to water quality. (b) Eligible States A State shall be eligible for a grant under the pilot program if the State— (1) has a coastal watershed with significant pollution levels; and (2) has counties or other units of local government with significant individual wastewater infrastructure deficits. (c) Applications To be eligible to receive a grant under the pilot program, an eligible State under subsection (b) shall submit to the Administrator an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Administrator may require. (d) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the pilot program such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2025. .