Water Quality Certification Improvement Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1761
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]
Introduced: 2021-05-20
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Environmental regulatory procedures

Licensing and registrations

State and local government operations

Water quality
Latest action: action_date: 2021-05-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-05-20
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Water Quality Certification Improvement Act of 2021</b> </p> <p>This bill limits the authority of states with respect to water quality certifications. Specifically, the bill limits the authority of states to review federally permitted activities that may result in discharges into navigable waters.</p>

tv_txt: II 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1761 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 20, 2021 Mr. Barrasso (for himself, Mr. Daines , Mr. Cramer , Mrs. Capito , Mr. Toomey , Ms. Lummis , and Mr. Inhofe ) 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 make changes with respect to water quality certification, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Water Quality Certification Improvement Act of 2021 . 2. Certification Section 401 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1341 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (1)— (i) in the first sentence— (I) by inserting by the applicant after any discharge ; and (II) by inserting as a result of the federally licensed or permitted activity after into the navigable waters ; (ii) in the second sentence, by striking activity and inserting discharge ; (iii) in the third sentence, by striking applications each place it appears and inserting requests ; (iv) in the fifth sentence, by striking act on and inserting grant or deny ; and (v) by inserting after the fourth sentence the following: The certifying State, interstate agency, or Administrator shall publish the requirements for certification that meet the applicable provisions of sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307. The decision to grant or deny a request shall be based only on the applicable provisions of sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307 and the grounds for a decision shall be set forth in writing to the applicant. ; (B) in paragraph (2)— (i) in the second sentence— (I) by striking such a discharge and inserting a discharge made into the navigable waters by the applicant as described in paragraph (1) ; (II) by inserting receipt of the before notice ; and (III) by striking of application for such Federal license or permit and inserting under the preceding sentence ; (ii) in the third sentence— (I) by striking such discharge and inserting any discharge made into the navigable waters by the applicant as described in paragraph (1) ; and (II) by striking any water quality requirement and inserting the applicable provisions of sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307 ; (iii) in the fifth sentence, by striking insure compliance with applicable water quality requirements. and inserting ensure any discharge into the navigable waters by the applicant as described in paragraph (1) will comply with the applicable provisions of sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307. ; and (iv) by striking the first sentence and inserting Not later than 90 days after receipt of a request for certification, the certifying State, interstate agency, or Administrator shall identify in writing all specific additional materials or information that are necessary to make a final decision on a request for certification. On receipt of a request for certification, the certifying State or interstate agency, as applicable, shall immediately notify the Administrator of the request. ; (C) in paragraph (3)— (i) in the first sentence, by striking there will be compliance and inserting a discharge made into the navigable waters by the applicant as described in paragraph (1) will comply ; and (ii) in the second sentence— (I) by striking section and inserting the applicable provisions of sections ; and (II) by striking or 307 of this Act and inserting and 307 ; (D) in paragraph (4)— (i) in the first sentence, by striking applicable effluent limitations and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting any discharge made by the applicant into the navigable waters as described in paragraph (1) will not violate the applicable provisions of sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307. ; (ii) in the second sentence, by striking will violate applicable effluent limitations or other limitations or other water quality requirements such Federal and inserting will result in a discharge made into the navigable waters by the applicant as described in paragraph (1) that violates the applicable provisions of sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307, the Federal ; and (iii) in the third sentence— (I) by striking such facility or activity and inserting a discharge made by the applicant into the navigable waters as described in paragraph (1) ; and (II) by striking section 301, 302, 303, 306, or 307 of this Act and inserting sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307 ; and (E) in paragraph (5)— (i) by striking such facility or activity has been operated in and inserting any discharge made by the applicant into the navigable waters as described in paragraph (1) is in ; and (ii) by striking section 301, 302, 303, 306, or 307 of this Act and inserting sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307 ; (2) in subsection (d), by striking assure that any applicant for a Federal license or permit will comply with any applicable and inserting the following: “ensure that any discharge made by the applicant into the navigable waters as described in subsection (a)(1) shall comply with the applicable provisions of sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307. Any limitations or requirements in the preceding sentence shall become a condition on any Federal license or permit subject to the provisions of this section. (e) Definition of applicable provisions of sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307 In this section, the term applicable provisions of sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307 means, as applicable, ; and (3) in subsection (e) (as so redesignated)— (A) by striking with ; (B) by striking other appropriate ; and (C) by striking set forth and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting implementing water quality criteria under section 303 necessary to support the specified designated use or uses of the receiving navigable water. .