Creating Confidence in Clean Water Permitting Act

Bill: 118-hr-7023
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7]
Introduced: 2024-01-17
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Army Corps of Engineers

Congressional oversight

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Florida

Judicial review and appeals

Licensing and registrations

State and local government operations

Water quality
Latest action: action_date: 2024-03-22
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Summaries:
action_date: 2024-01-17
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Nationwide Permitting Improvement Act</b></p> <p>This bill revises the permit process for discharging dredged or fill material into waters of the United States under the Clean Water Act.</p> <p>Under the existing act, two types of discharge permits may be issued: general permits or individual permits. General permits may be issued on a state, regional, or nationwide basis for categories of activities involving discharges of dredged or fill material that are similar in nature even though the discharges may be from multiple dischargers. General permits may include activities that cause only minimal adverse environmental effects. Individual permits may be issued for more significant activities.</p> <p>This bill directs the U.S. Corps of Engineers&#8212;when determining whether the environmental effects of a category of activities are minimal and whether to issue or revoke general permits&#8212;to consider only the effects of the discharges of dredged or fill material from such activities.</p> <p>Next, the bill extends the maximum term for a general permit from a period of 5 years to 10 years.</p> <p>The bill also directs the Corps of Engineers to maintain a nationwide general permit for certain linear infrastructure projects (e.g., oil or gas pipelines) that do not result in the loss of greater than half an acre of waters of the United States for each single and complete project<i>.</i> Additionally, the bill exempts the Corps of Engineers from certain consultation and environmental review requirements when reissuing nationwide general permits. Finally, the bill prohibits the Corps of Engineers from finalizing or implementing certain modifications to such permits.</p>

action_date: 2024-02-06
action_desc: Reported to House
text: <p><b>Creating Confidence in Clean Water Permitting Act</b></p> <p>This bill modifies requirements under the Clean Water Act, including requirements concerning water quality criteria, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program, the permit program for discharging dredged or fill material into waters of the United States, and the meaning of <em>waters of the United States</em>.</p> <p>First, the bill directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop any new or revised water quality criteria for states through a rule.</p> <p>Next, the bill modifies the NPDES program, including by providing statutory authority for provisions that shield NPDES permit holders from liability under certain circumstances. It also provides statutory authority for the EPA to issue general permits under the program. The EPA must also provide written notification two years before the expiration of a general permit. If notice is not provided by that deadline, then discharges under the expired permit may continue until a new permit is issued. </p> <p>Additionally, the bill modifies the permitting program of the EPA and the U.S. Corps of Engineers that regulates the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States. For example, the bill limits the EPA's veto authority to restrict, prohibit, deny, or withdraw the specification by the Corps of a site for the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States. The bill also modifies requirements for general permits to discharge dredge or fill material that are issued on a nationwide, regional, or state basis for particular categories of activities, including by extending the maximum term for a general permit from a period of 5 years to 10 years. It also exempts the Corps from certain consultation and environmental review requirements when reissuing nationwide general permits.</p> <p>Finally, the bill directs the EPA and the Corps to begin a process to issue guidance on the implementation of the 2023 final rule titled <i>Revised Definition of &quot;Waters of the United States&quot;; Conforming</i> and stipulates the guidance must comply with the decision of the Supreme Court in <i><i>Sackett v. EPA</i></i>.</p>

action_date: 2024-03-21
action_desc: Passed House
text: <p><b>Creating Confidence in Clean Water Permitting Act</b></p> <p>This bill modifies requirements under the Clean Water Act, including requirements concerning water quality criteria, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program, the permit program for discharging dredged or fill material into waters of the United States, and the meaning of <em>waters of the United States</em>. It also limits the issuance of permits under the act.</p> <p>First, the bill directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop any new or revised water quality criteria for states through a rule.</p> <p>Next, the bill modifies the NPDES program, including by providing statutory authority for provisions that shield NPDES permit holders from liability under certain circumstances. It also provides statutory authority for the EPA to issue general permits under the program. The EPA must also provide written notification two years before the expiration of a general permit. If notice is not provided by that deadline, then discharges under the expired permit may continue until a new permit is issued. Finally, the bill extends the maximum term for NPDES permits issued to states or municipalities from 5 to 10 years. </p> <p>Additionally, the bill modifies the permitting program of the EPA and the U.S. Corps of Engineers that regulates the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States. For example, the bill limits the EPA's veto authority to restrict, prohibit, deny, or withdraw the specification by the Corps of a site for the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States. The bill also modifies requirements for general permits to discharge dredge or fill material that are issued on a nationwide, regional, or state basis for particular categories of activities, including by extending the maximum term for a general permit from a period of 5 years to 10 years. It also exempts the Corps from certain consultation and environmental review requirements when reissuing nationwide general permits.</p> <p>Further, the bill also provides statutory authority for the EPA's decision to approve Florida's request to assume permitting authority from the Corps for the discharge of dredged or fill material. The decision, which was issued in 2020, was subsequently vacated in 2024 by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.</p> <p>The bill also directs the EPA and the Corps to begin a process to issue guidance on the implementation of the 2023 final rule titled <i>Revised Definition of &quot;Waters of the United States&quot;; Conforming</i> and stipulates the guidance must comply with the decision of the Supreme Court in <i><i>Sackett v. EPA</i></i>.</p> <p>Finally, the bill prohibits permits from being issued under Title IV of the Clean Water Act for any discharges from a point source that is owned or operated by certain foreign counties of concern and any subsidiaries of entities that are subject to the jurisdiction of such countries.</p>

tv_txt: IIB 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7023 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 22, 2024 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works AN ACT To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to provide regulatory and judicial certainty for regulated entities and communities, increase transparency, and promote water quality, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Creating Confidence in Clean Water Permitting Act . 2. Water quality criteria development and transparency (a) Information and guidelines Section 304(a) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1314(a) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (10) Administrative procedure After the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Administrator shall issue any new or revised water quality criteria under paragraph (1) or (9) by rule. . (b) Administrative procedure and judicial review Section 509(b)(1) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1369(b)(1) ) is amended— (1) by striking section 402, and and inserting section 402, ; and (2) by inserting and (H) in issuing any criteria for water quality pursuant to section 304(a)(10), after strategy under section 304(l), . 3. Federal general permits Section 402(a) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1342(a) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (6) (A) The Administrator is authorized to issue general permits under this section for discharges of similar types from similar sources. (B) The Administrator may require submission of a notice of intent to be covered under a general permit issued under this section, including additional information that the Administrator determines necessary. (C) If a general permit issued under this section will expire and the Administrator decides not to issue a new general permit for discharges similar to those covered by the expiring general permit, the Administrator shall publish in the Federal Register a notice of such decision at least two years prior to the expiration of the general permit. (D) If a general permit issued under this section expires and the Administrator has not published a notice in accordance with subparagraph (C), until such time as the Administrator issues a new general permit for discharges similar to those covered by the expired general permit, the Administrator shall— (i) continue to apply the terms, conditions, and requirements of the expired general permit to any discharge that was covered by the expired general permit; and (ii) apply such terms, conditions, and requirements to any discharge that would have been covered by the expired general permit (in accordance with any relevant requirements for such coverage) if the discharge had occurred before such expiration. . 4. National pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES) terms Section 402(b)(1)(B) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1342(b)(1)(B) ) is amended to read as follows: (B) are for fixed terms— (i) not exceeding 10 years, for a permit issued to a State or municipality; and (ii) not exceeding 5 years, for a permit issued to any person not described in clause (i); and . 5. Confidence in clean water permits (a) Compliance with permits Section 402(k) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1342(k) ) is amended— (1) by striking (k) Compliance with and inserting the following: (k) Compliance with permits (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), compliance with ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (2) Scope For purposes of paragraph (1), compliance with the conditions of a permit issued under this section shall be considered compliance with respect to a discharge of— (A) any pollutant for which an effluent limitation is included in the permit; and (B) any pollutant for which an effluent limitation is not included in the permit that is— (i) specifically identified as controlled or monitored through indicator parameters in the permit, the fact sheet for the permit, or the administrative record relating to the permit; (ii) specifically identified during the permit application process as present in discharges to which the permit will apply; or (iii) whether or not specifically identified in the permit or during the permit application process— (I) present in any waste streams or processes of the point source to which the permit applies, which waste streams or processes are specifically identified during the permit application process; or (II) otherwise within the scope of any operations of the point source to which the permit applies, which scope of operations is specifically identified during the permit application process. . (b) Technical corrections Section 402( l )(3) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1342( l )(3)) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (B)— (A) by striking section 402 and inserting this section ; and (B) by striking federal and inserting Federal ; and (2) in subparagraph (C)— (A) by striking Section and inserting section ; (B) by striking 402(p)(6) and inserting subsection (p)(6) ; (C) by striking 402(l)(3)(A), and inserting subparagraph (A), ; and (D) by striking 402(l)(3)(A). and inserting such subparagraph. . (c) Expression of water quality-based effluent limitations Section 402 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1342 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (t) Expression of water quality-based effluent limitations If the Administrator (or a State, in the case of a permit program approved by the Administrator) determines that a water quality-based limitation on a discharge of a pollutant is necessary to include in a permit under this section in addition to any appropriate technology-based effluent limitations included in such permit, the Administrator (or the State) may include such water quality-based limitation in such permit only in the form of an effluent limitation that specifies— (1) the pollutant to which it applies; and (2) the numerical limit on the discharge of such pollutant, or the precise waterbody conditions to be attained with respect to such pollutant, required to comply with the permit. . 6. Reducing permitting uncertainty (a) In general Section 404(c) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1344(c) ) is amended— (1) by striking (c) The Administrator and inserting the following: (c) Specification or use of defined area (1) In general The Administrator ; (2) in paragraph (1), as so designated, by inserting during the period described in paragraph (2) and before after notice and opportunity for public hearings ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (2) Period of prohibition The period during which the Administrator may prohibit the specification (including the withdrawal of specification) of any defined area as a disposal site, or deny or restrict the use of any defined area for specification (including the withdrawal of specification) as a disposal site, under paragraph (1) shall— (A) begin on the date on which an applicant submits all the information required to complete an application for a permit under this section; and (B) end on the date on which the Secretary issues the permit. . (b) Applicability The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to a permit application submitted under section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1344 ) after the date of enactment of this Act. 7. Nationwide permitting improvement (a) In general Section 404(e) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1344 ) is amended— (1) by striking (e)(1) In carrying and inserting the following: (e) General permits on State, regional, or nationwide basis (1) Permits authorized In carrying ; (2) in paragraph (2)— (A) by striking (2) No general and inserting the following: (2) Term No general ; and (B) by striking five years and inserting ten years ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (3) Considerations In determining the environmental effects of an activity under paragraph (1) or (2), the Secretary shall consider only the effects of any discharge of dredged or fill material resulting from such activity. (4) Nationwide permits for linear infrastructure projects (A) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the Secretary shall maintain general permits on a nationwide basis for linear infrastructure projects that do not result in the loss of greater than ½-acre of waters of the United States for each single and complete project (as defined in section 330.2 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this paragraph)). (B) Definition of linear infrastructure project In this paragraph, the term linear infrastructure project means a project to carry out any activity required for the construction, expansion, maintenance, modification, or removal of infrastructure and associated facility for the transmission from a point of origin to a terminal point of communications or electricity or the transportation from a point of origin to a terminal point of people, water, wastewater, carbon dioxide, or fuel or hydrocarbons (in the form of a liquid, liquescent, gaseous, or slurry substance or supercritical fluid), including oil and gas pipeline facilities. (5) Reissuance of nationwide permits In determining whether to reissue a general permit issued under this subsection on a nationwide basis— (A) no consultation with an applicable State pursuant to section 6(a) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1535(a) ) is required; (B) no consultation with a Federal agency pursuant to section 7(a)(2) of such Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(2) ) is required; and (C) the requirements of section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C) ) shall be satisfied by preparing an environmental assessment with respect to such general permit. . (b) Administration of nationwide permit program In carrying out section 404(e) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1344 ), the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, may not finalize or implement any modification to— (1) general condition 15 (relating to single and complete projects), as included in the final rule titled Reissuance and Modification of Nationwide Permits and published on January 13, 2021, by the Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers (86 Fed. Reg. 2868); (2) the definition of single and complete linear project, as included in such final rule (86 Fed. Reg. 2877); or (3) the definition of single and complete project, as included in section 330.2 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act). 8. Judicial review timeline clarity Section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1344 ) is amended— (1) by redesignating subsection (t) as subsection (u); (2) in subsection (u), as so redesignated, by striking Nothing in the section and inserting Savings provision.— Nothing in this section ; and (3) by inserting after subsection (s) the following: (t) Judicial review (1) Statute of limitations (A) In general Notwithstanding any applicable provision of law relating to statutes of limitations, an action seeking judicial review of— (i) an individual or general permit issued under this section shall be filed not later than the date that is 60 days after the date on which the permit was issued; and (ii) verification that an activity is authorized by a general permit issued under this section shall be filed not later than the date that is 60 days after the date on which such verification was issued. (B) Savings provision Nothing in subparagraph (A) may be construed to authorize an action seeking judicial review of the structure of, or authorization for, a State permit program approved pursuant to this section. (2) Limitation on commencement of certain actions Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no action described in paragraph (1)(A) may be commenced unless the action— (A) is filed by a party that submitted a comment, during the public comment period for the administrative proceedings related to the applicable action described in such paragraph, which comment was sufficiently detailed to put the Secretary or the State, as applicable, on notice of the issue upon which the party seeks judicial review; and (B) is related to such comment. (3) Remedy If a court determines that the Secretary or the State, as applicable, did not comply with the requirements of this section in issuing an individual or general permit under this section, or in verifying that an activity is authorized by a general permit issued under this section, as applicable— (A) the court shall remand the matter to the Secretary or the State, as applicable, for further proceedings consistent with the court’s determination; (B) with respect to a determination regarding the issuance of an individual or general permit under this section, the court may not vacate, revoke, enjoin, or otherwise limit the permit, unless the court finds that activities authorized under the permit would present an imminent and substantial danger to human health or the environment for which there is no other equitable remedy available under the law; and (C) with respect to a determination regarding a verification that an activity is authorized by a general permit issued under this section, the court may not enjoin the activity, unless the court finds that the activity would present an imminent and substantial danger to human health or the environment for which there is no other equitable remedy available under the law. (4) Timeline to act on court order If a court remands a matter under paragraph (2), the court shall set and enforce a reasonable schedule and deadline, which may not exceed 180 days from the date on which the court remands such matter, except as otherwise required by law, for the Secretary or the State, as applicable, to take such actions as the court may order. . 9. Limitation on permit issuance Title IV of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1341 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following: 407. Limitation on permit issuance (a) Prohibition No permit may be issued under this title for any discharge from a point source that is owned or operated by an entity that— (1) is subject to the jurisdiction of a foreign country of concern (as defined in section 9901(7) of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 ( 15 U.S.C. 4651(7) ); or (2) is a subsidiary of an entity that is subject to the jurisdiction of a foreign country of concern (as so defined). (b) Application This section shall be applied in a manner consistent with the obligations of the United States under applicable international agreements. . 10. Implementation guidance (a) In general Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, shall begin a process to issue guidance on the implementation of the final rule published on September 8, 2023, by the Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense and the Environmental Protection Agency and titled Revised Definition of Waters of the United States ; Conforming (88 Fed. Reg. 61964). (b) Public comment In issuing the guidance required under subsection (a), the Administrator and the Secretary shall— (1) prior to such issuance, solicit comments from the public on such guidance; and (2) ensure that such comments and any responses to such comments are made publicly available. (c) Compliance Any guidance issued pursuant to this section shall comply with the decision of the Supreme Court in Sackett v. EPA , 598 U.S. 651 (2023). 11. Rule of construction Nothing in this Act, including the amendments made by this Act, may be construed as affecting the ban on oil and gas development in the Great Lakes described in section 386 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 ( 42 U.S.C. 15941 ). 12. Report on Corps staffing needs Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, shall submit to Congress a report on— (1) the staffing needs of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Corps of Engineers to process applications for, and issue, permits under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, based on the number of such applications submitted during the 5-year period preceding such date of enactment; and (2) the impact that funding for additional full-time employees would have on processing timelines for such permits. 13. Savings clause relating to PFAS Nothing in this Act, including the amendments made by this Act, shall affect the authority of the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to conduct research on perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. 14. Approval of Florida permit program The notice of the Environmental Protection Agency approving the State of Florida’s request to carry out a permit program for the discharge of dredged or fill material pursuant to section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1344 ), published on December 22, 2020, and titled EPA’s Approval of Florida’s Clean Water Act Section 404 Assumption Request (85 Fed. Reg. 83553) shall have the force and effect of law.

Passed the House of Representatives March 21, 2024. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7023 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to provide regulatory and judicial certainty for regulated entities and communities, increase transparency, and promote water quality, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Creating Confidence in Clean Water Permitting Act . 2. Water quality criteria development and transparency (a) Information and guidelines Section 304(a) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1314(a) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (10) Administrative procedure After the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Administrator shall issue any new or revised water quality criteria under paragraph (1) or (9) by rule. . (b) Administrative procedure and judicial review Section 509(b)(1) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1369(b)(1) ) is amended— (1) by striking section 402, and and inserting section 402, ; and (2) by inserting and (H) in issuing any criteria for water quality pursuant to section 304(a)(10), after strategy under section 304(l), . 3. Federal general permits Section 402(a) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1342(a) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (6) (A) The Administrator is authorized to issue general permits under this section for discharges of similar types from similar sources. (B) The Administrator may require submission of a notice of intent to be covered under a general permit issued under this section, including additional information that the Administrator determines necessary. (C) If a general permit issued under this section will expire and the Administrator decides not to issue a new general permit for discharges similar to those covered by the expiring general permit, the Administrator shall publish in the Federal Register a notice of such decision at least two years prior to the expiration of the general permit. (D) If a general permit issued under this section expires and the Administrator has not published a notice in accordance with subparagraph (C), until such time as the Administrator issues a new general permit for discharges similar to those covered by the expired general permit, the Administrator shall— (i) continue to apply the terms, conditions, and requirements of the expired general permit to any discharge that was covered by the expired general permit; and (ii) apply such terms, conditions, and requirements to any discharge that would have been covered by the expired general permit (in accordance with any relevant requirements for such coverage) if the discharge had occurred before such expiration. . 4. National pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES) terms Section 402(b)(1)(B) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1342(b)(1)(B) ) is amended to read as follows: (B) are for fixed terms— (i) not exceeding 10 years, for a permit issued to a State or municipality; and (ii) not exceeding 5 years, for a permit issued to any person not described in clause (i); and . 5. Confidence in clean water permits (a) Compliance with permits Section 402(k) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1342(k) ) is amended— (1) by striking (k) Compliance with and inserting the following: (k) Compliance with permits (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), compliance with ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (2) Scope For purposes of paragraph (1), compliance with the conditions of a permit issued under this section shall be considered compliance with respect to a discharge of— (A) any pollutant for which an effluent limitation is included in the permit; and (B) any pollutant for which an effluent limitation is not included in the permit that is— (i) specifically identified as controlled or monitored through indicator parameters in the permit, the fact sheet for the permit, or the administrative record relating to the permit; (ii) specifically identified during the permit application process as present in discharges to which the permit will apply; or (iii) whether or not specifically identified in the permit or during the permit application process— (I) present in any waste streams or processes of the point source to which the permit applies, which waste streams or processes are specifically identified during the permit application process; or (II) otherwise within the scope of any operations of the point source to which the permit applies, which scope of operations is specifically identified during the permit application process. . (b) Technical corrections Section 402( l )(3) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1342( l )(3)) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (B)— (A) by striking section 402 and inserting this section ; and (B) by striking federal and inserting Federal ; and (2) in subparagraph (C)— (A) by striking Section and inserting section ; (B) by striking 402(p)(6) and inserting subsection (p)(6) ; (C) by striking 402(l)(3)(A), and inserting subparagraph (A), ; and (D) by striking 402(l)(3)(A). and inserting such subparagraph. . (c) Expression of water quality-based effluent limitations Section 402 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1342 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (t) Expression of water quality-based effluent limitations If the Administrator (or a State, in the case of a permit program approved by the Administrator) determines that a water quality-based limitation on a discharge of a pollutant is necessary to include in a permit under this section in addition to any appropriate technology-based effluent limitations included in such permit, the Administrator (or the State) may include such water quality-based limitation in such permit only in the form of an effluent limitation that specifies— (1) the pollutant to which it applies; and (2) the numerical limit on the discharge of such pollutant, or the precise waterbody conditions to be attained with respect to such pollutant, required to comply with the permit. . 6. Reducing permitting uncertainty (a) In general Section 404(c) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1344(c) ) is amended— (1) by striking (c) The Administrator and inserting the following: (c) Specification or use of defined area (1) In general The Administrator ; (2) in paragraph (1), as so designated, by inserting during the period described in paragraph (2) and before after notice and opportunity for public hearings ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (2) Period of prohibition The period during which the Administrator may prohibit the specification (including the withdrawal of specification) of any defined area as a disposal site, or deny or restrict the use of any defined area for specification (including the withdrawal of specification) as a disposal site, under paragraph (1) shall— (A) begin on the date on which an applicant submits all the information required to complete an application for a permit under this section; and (B) end on the date on which the Secretary issues the permit. . (b) Applicability The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to a permit application submitted under section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1344 ) after the date of enactment of this Act. 7. Nationwide permitting improvement (a) In general Section 404(e) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1344 ) is amended— (1) by striking (e)(1) In carrying and inserting the following: (e) General permits on State, regional, or nationwide basis (1) Permits authorized In carrying ; (2) in paragraph (2)— (A) by striking (2) No general and inserting the following: (2) Term No general ; and (B) by striking five years and inserting ten years ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (3) Considerations In determining the environmental effects of an activity under paragraph (1) or (2), the Secretary shall consider only the effects of any discharge of dredged or fill material resulting from such activity. (4) Nationwide permits for linear infrastructure projects (A) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the Secretary shall maintain general permits on a nationwide basis for linear infrastructure projects that do not result in the loss of greater than ½-acre of waters of the United States for each single and complete project (as defined in section 330.2 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this paragraph)). (B) Definition of linear infrastructure project In this paragraph, the term linear infrastructure project means a project to carry out any activity required for the construction, expansion, maintenance, modification, or removal of infrastructure and associated facility for the transmission from a point of origin to a terminal point of communications or electricity or the transportation from a point of origin to a terminal point of people, water, wastewater, carbon dioxide, or fuel or hydrocarbons (in the form of a liquid, liquescent, gaseous, or slurry substance or supercritical fluid), including oil and gas pipeline facilities. (5) Reissuance of nationwide permits In determining whether to reissue a general permit issued under this subsection on a nationwide basis— (A) no consultation with an applicable State pursuant to section 6(a) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1535(a) ) is required; (B) no consultation with a Federal agency pursuant to section 7(a)(2) of such Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(2) ) is required; and (C) the requirements of section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C) ) shall be satisfied by preparing an environmental assessment with respect to such general permit. . (b) Administration of nationwide permit program In carrying out section 404(e) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1344 ), the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, may not finalize or implement any modification to— (1) general condition 15 (relating to single and complete projects), as included in the final rule titled Reissuance and Modification of Nationwide Permits and published on January 13, 2021, by the Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers (86 Fed. Reg. 2868); (2) the definition of single and complete linear project, as included in such final rule (86 Fed. Reg. 2877); or (3) the definition of single and complete project, as included in section 330.2 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act). 8. Judicial review timeline clarity Section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1344 ) is amended— (1) by redesignating subsection (t) as subsection (u); (2) in subsection (u), as so redesignated, by striking Nothing in the section and inserting Savings provision.— Nothing in this section ; and (3) by inserting after subsection (s) the following: (t) Judicial review (1) Statute of limitations (A) In general Notwithstanding any applicable provision of law relating to statutes of limitations, an action seeking judicial review of— (i) an individual or general permit issued under this section shall be filed not later than the date that is 60 days after the date on which the permit was issued; and (ii) verification that an activity is authorized by a general permit issued under this section shall be filed not later than the date that is 60 days after the date on which such verification was issued. (B) Savings provision Nothing in subparagraph (A) may be construed to authorize an action seeking judicial review of the structure of, or authorization for, a State permit program approved pursuant to this section. (2) Limitation on commencement of certain actions Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no action described in paragraph (1)(A) may be commenced unless the action— (A) is filed by a party that submitted a comment, during the public comment period for the administrative proceedings related to the applicable action described in such paragraph, which comment was sufficiently detailed to put the Secretary or the State, as applicable, on notice of the issue upon which the party seeks judicial review; and (B) is related to such comment. (3) Remedy If a court determines that the Secretary or the State, as applicable, did not comply with the requirements of this section in issuing an individual or general permit under this section, or in verifying that an activity is authorized by a general permit issued under this section, as applicable— (A) the court shall remand the matter to the Secretary or the State, as applicable, for further proceedings consistent with the court’s determination; (B) with respect to a determination regarding the issuance of an individual or general permit under this section, the court may not vacate, revoke, enjoin, or otherwise limit the permit, unless the court finds that activities authorized under the permit would present an imminent and substantial danger to human health or the environment for which there is no other equitable remedy available under the law; and (C) with respect to a determination regarding a verification that an activity is authorized by a general permit issued under this section, the court may not enjoin the activity, unless the court finds that the activity would present an imminent and substantial danger to human health or the environment for which there is no other equitable remedy available under the law. (4) Timeline to act on court order If a court remands a matter under paragraph (2), the court shall set and enforce a reasonable schedule and deadline, which may not exceed 180 days from the date on which the court remands such matter, except as otherwise required by law, for the Secretary or the State, as applicable, to take such actions as the court may order. . 9. Limitation on permit issuance Title IV of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1341 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following: 407. Limitation on permit issuance (a) Prohibition No permit may be issued under this title for any discharge from a point source that is owned or operated by an entity that— (1) is subject to the jurisdiction of a foreign country of concern (as defined in section 9901(7) of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 ( 15 U.S.C. 4651(7) ); or (2) is a subsidiary of an entity that is subject to the jurisdiction of a foreign country of concern (as so defined). (b) Application This section shall be applied in a manner consistent with the obligations of the United States under applicable international agreements. . 10. Implementation guidance (a) In general Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, shall begin a process to issue guidance on the implementation of the final rule published on September 8, 2023, by the Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense and the Environmental Protection Agency and titled Revised Definition of Waters of the United States ; Conforming (88 Fed. Reg. 61964). (b) Public comment In issuing the guidance required under subsection (a), the Administrator and the Secretary shall— (1) prior to such issuance, solicit comments from the public on such guidance; and (2) ensure that such comments and any responses to such comments are made publicly available. (c) Compliance Any guidance issued pursuant to this section shall comply with the decision of the Supreme Court in Sackett v. EPA , 598 U.S. 651 (2023). 11. Rule of construction Nothing in this Act, including the amendments made by this Act, may be construed as affecting the ban on oil and gas development in the Great Lakes described in section 386 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 ( 42 U.S.C. 15941 ). 12. Report on Corps staffing needs Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, shall submit to Congress a report on— (1) the staffing needs of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Corps of Engineers to process applications for, and issue, permits under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, based on the number of such applications submitted during the 5-year period preceding such date of enactment; and (2) the impact that funding for additional full-time employees would have on processing timelines for such permits. 13. Savings clause relating to PFAS Nothing in this Act, including the amendments made by this Act, shall affect the authority of the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to conduct research on perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. 14. Approval of Florida permit program The notice of the Environmental Protection Agency approving the State of Florida’s request to carry out a permit program for the discharge of dredged or fill material pursuant to section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1344 ), published on December 22, 2020, and titled EPA’s Approval of Florida’s Clean Water Act Section 404 Assumption Request (85 Fed. Reg. 83553) shall have the force and effect of law.

Passed the House of Representatives March 21, 2024. Cheryl L. Johnson, Clerk.

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 306 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7023 [Report No. 118–375] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 17, 2024 Mr. Rouzer introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure February 6, 2024 Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on January 17, 2024 A BILL To amend section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to codify certain regulatory provisions relating to nationwide permits for dredged or fill material, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Creating Confidence in Clean Water Permitting Act . 2. Water quality criteria development and transparency (a) Information and guidelines Section 304(a) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1314(a) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (10) Administrative procedure After the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Administrator shall issue any new or revised water quality criteria under paragraph (1) or (9) by rule. . (b) Administrative procedure and judicial review Section 509(b)(1) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1369(b)(1) ) is amended— (1) by striking section 402, and and inserting section 402, ; and (2) by inserting and (H) in issuing any criteria for water quality pursuant to section 304(a)(10), after strategy under section 304(l), . 3. Federal general permits Section 402(a) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1342(a) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (6) (A) The Administrator is authorized to issue general permits under this section for discharges of similar types from similar sources. (B) The Administrator may require submission of a notice of intent to be covered under a general permit issued under this section, including additional information that the Administrator determines necessary. (C) If a general permit issued under this section will expire and the Administrator decides not to issue a new general permit for discharges similar to those covered by the expiring general permit, the Administrator shall publish in the Federal Register a notice of such decision at least two years prior to the expiration of the general permit. (D) If a general permit issued under this section expires and the Administrator has not published a notice in accordance with subparagraph (C), until such time as the Administrator issues a new general permit for discharges similar to those covered by the expired general permit, the Administrator shall— (i) continue to apply the terms, conditions, and requirements of the expired general permit to any discharge that was covered by the expired general permit; and (ii) apply such terms, conditions, and requirements to any discharge that would have been covered by the expired general permit (in accordance with any relevant requirements for such coverage) if the discharge had occurred before such expiration. . 4. Confidence in clean water permits (a) Compliance with permits Section 402(k) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1342(k) ) is amended— (1) by striking (k) Compliance with and inserting the following: (k) Compliance with permits (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), compliance with ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (2) Scope For purposes of paragraph (1), compliance with the conditions of a permit issued under this section shall be considered compliance with respect to a discharge of— (A) any pollutant for which an effluent limitation is included in the permit; and (B) any pollutant for which an effluent limitation is not included in the permit that is— (i) specifically identified as controlled or monitored through indicator parameters in the permit, the fact sheet for the permit, or the administrative record relating to the permit; (ii) specifically identified during the permit application process as present in discharges to which the permit will apply; or (iii) whether or not specifically identified in the permit or during the permit application process— (I) present in any waste streams or processes of the point source to which the permit applies, which waste streams or processes are specifically identified during the permit application process; or (II) otherwise within the scope of any operations of the point source to which the permit applies, which scope of operations is specifically identified during the permit application process. . (b) Expression of water quality-based effluent limitations Section 402 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1342 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (t) Expression of water quality-based effluent limitations If the Administrator (or a State, in the case of a permit program approved by the Administrator) determines that a water quality-based limitation on a discharge of a pollutant is necessary to include in a permit under this section in addition to any appropriate technology-based effluent limitations included in such permit, the Administrator (or the State) may include such water quality-based limitation in such permit only in the form of an effluent limitation that specifies— (1) the pollutant to which it applies; and (2) the numerical limit on the discharge of such pollutant, or the precise waterbody conditions to be attained with respect to such pollutant, required to comply with the permit. . 5. Reducing permitting uncertainty (a) In general Section 404(c) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1344(c) ) is amended— (1) by striking (c) The Administrator and inserting the following: (c) Specification or use of defined area (1) In general The Administrator ; (2) in paragraph (1), as so designated, by inserting during the period described in paragraph (2) and before after notice and opportunity for public hearings ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (2) Period of prohibition The period during which the Administrator may prohibit the specification (including the withdrawal of specification) of any defined area as a disposal site, or deny or restrict the use of any defined area for specification (including the withdrawal of specification) as a disposal site, under paragraph (1) shall— (A) begin on the date on which an applicant submits all the information required to complete an application for a permit under this section; and (B) end on the date on which the Secretary issues the permit. . (b) Applicability The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to a permit application submitted under section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1344 ) after the date of enactment of this Act. 6. Nationwide permitting improvement (a) In general Section 404(e) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1344 ) is amended— (1) by striking (e)(1) In carrying and inserting the following: (e) General permits on State, regional, or nationwide basis (1) Permits authorized In carrying ; (2) in paragraph (2)— (A) by striking (2) No general and inserting the following: (2) Term No general ; and (B) by striking five years and inserting ten years ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (3) Considerations In determining the environmental effects of an activity under paragraph (1) or (2), the Secretary shall consider only the effects of any discharge of dredged or fill material resulting from such activity. (4) Nationwide permits for linear infrastructure projects (A) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the Secretary shall maintain general permits on a nationwide basis for linear infrastructure projects that do not result in the loss of greater than 1/2-acre of waters of the United States for each single and complete project (as defined in section 330.2 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this paragraph)). (B) Definition of linear infrastructure project In this paragraph, the term linear infrastructure project means a project to carry out any activity required for the construction, expansion, maintenance, modification, or removal of infrastructure and associated facility for the transmission from a point of origin to a terminal point of communications or electricity or the transportation from a point of origin to a terminal point of people, water, wastewater, carbon dioxide, or fuel or hydrocarbons (in the form of a liquid, liquescent, gaseous, or slurry substance or supercritical fluid), including oil and gas pipeline facilities. (5) Reissuance of nationwide permits In determining whether to reissue a general permit issued under this subsection on a nationwide basis— (A) no consultation with an applicable State pursuant to section 6(a) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1535(a) ) is required; (B) no consultation with a Federal agency pursuant to section 7(a)(2) of such Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(2) ) is required; and (C) the requirements of section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C) ) shall be satisfied by preparing an environmental assessment with respect to such general permit. . (b) Administration of nationwide permit program In carrying out section 404(e) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1344 ), the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, may not finalize or implement any modification to— (1) general condition 15 (relating to single and complete projects), as included in the final rule titled Reissuance and Modification of Nationwide Permits and published on January 13, 2021, by the Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers (86 Fed. Reg. 2868); (2) the definition of single and complete linear project, as included in such final rule (86 Fed. Reg. 2877); or (3) the definition of single and complete project, as included in section 330.2 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act). 7. Judicial review timeline clarity Section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1344 ) is amended— (1) by redesignating subsection (t) as subsection (u); (2) in subsection (u), as so redesignated, by striking Nothing in the section and inserting Savings provision.— Nothing in this section ; and (3) by inserting after subsection (s) the following: (t) Judicial review (1) Statute of limitations (A) In general Notwithstanding any applicable provision of law relating to statutes of limitations, an action seeking judicial review of— (i) an individual or general permit issued under this section shall be filed not later than the date that is 60 days after the date on which the permit was issued; and (ii) verification that an activity is authorized by a general permit issued under this section shall be filed not later than the date that is 60 days after the date on which such verification was issued. (B) Savings provision Nothing in subparagraph (A) may be construed to authorize an action seeking judicial review of the structure of, or authorization for, a State permit program approved pursuant to this section. (2) Limitation on commencement of certain actions Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no action described in paragraph (1)(A) may be commenced unless the action— (A) is filed by a party that submitted a comment, during the public comment period for the administrative proceedings related to the applicable action described in such paragraph, which comment was sufficiently detailed to put the Secretary or the State, as applicable, on notice of the issue upon which the party seeks judicial review; and (B) is related to such comment. (3) Remedy If a court determines that the Secretary or the State, as applicable, did not comply with the requirements of this section in issuing an individual or general permit under this section, or in verifying that an activity is authorized by a general permit issued under this section, as applicable— (A) the court shall remand the matter to the Secretary or the State, as applicable, for further proceedings consistent with the court’s determination; (B) with respect to a determination regarding the issuance of an individual or general permit under this section, the court may not vacate, revoke, enjoin, or otherwise limit the permit, unless the court finds that activities authorized under the permit would present an imminent and substantial danger to human health or the environment for which there is no other equitable remedy available under the law; and (C) with respect to a determination regarding a verification that an activity is authorized by a general permit issued under this section, the court may not enjoin the activity, unless the court finds that the activity would present an imminent and substantial danger to human health or the environment for which there is no other equitable remedy available under the law. (4) Timeline to act on court order If a court remands a matter under paragraph (2), the court shall set and enforce a reasonable schedule and deadline, which may not exceed 180 days from the date on which the court remands such matter, except as otherwise required by law, for the Secretary or the State, as applicable, to take such actions as the court may order. . 8. Implementation guidance (a) In general Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, shall begin a process to issue guidance on the implementation of the final rule published on September 8, 2023, by the Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense and the Environmental Protection Agency and titled Revised Definition of Waters of the United States ; Conforming (88 Fed. Reg. 61964). (b) Public comment In issuing the guidance required under subsection (a), the Administrator and the Secretary shall— (1) prior to such issuance, solicit comments from the public on such guidance; and (2) ensure that such comments and any responses to such comments are made publicly available. (c) Compliance Any guidance issued pursuant to this section shall comply with the decision of the Supreme Court in Sackett v. EPA , 598 U.S. 651 (2023).

Amend the title so as to read: A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to provide regulatory and judicial certainty for regulated entities and communities, increase transparency, and promote water quality, and for other purposes. .

February 6, 2024 Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7023 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 17, 2024 Mr. Rouzer introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To amend section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to codify certain regulatory provisions relating to nationwide permits for dredged or fill material, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Nationwide Permitting Improvement Act . 2. Permits for dredged or fill material (a) In general Section 404(e) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1344 ) is amended— (1) by striking (e)(1) In carrying and inserting the following: (e) General permits on State, regional, or nationwide basis (1) Permits authorized In carrying ; (2) in paragraph (2)— (A) by striking (2) No general and inserting the following: (2) Term No general ; and (B) by striking five years and inserting ten years ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (3) Considerations In determining the environmental effects of an activity under paragraph (1) or (2), the Secretary shall consider only the effects of any discharge of dredged or fill material resulting from such activity. (4) Nationwide permits for linear infrastructure projects (A) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the Secretary shall maintain a general permit on a nationwide basis for linear infrastructure projects that do not result in the loss of greater than 1/2 -acre of waters of the United States for each single and complete project (as defined in section 330.2 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this paragraph)). (B) Definition of linear infrastructure project In this paragraph, the term linear infrastructure project means a project to carry out any activity required for the construction, expansion, maintenance, modification, or removal of infrastructure and associated facility for the transmission from a point of origin to a terminal point of communications or electricity or the transportation from a point of origin to a terminal point of people, water, wastewater, carbon dioxide, or fuel or hydrocarbons (in the form of a liquid, liquescent, gaseous, or slurry substance or supercritical fluid), including oil and gas pipeline facilities. (5) Reissuance of nationwide permits In determining whether to reissue a general permit issued under this subsection on a nationwide basis— (A) no consultation with an applicable State pursuant to section 6(a) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1535(a) ) is required; (B) no consultation with a Federal agency pursuant to section 7(a)(2) of such Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(2) ) is required; and (C) the requirements of section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C) ) shall be satisfied by preparing an environmental assessment with respect to such general permit. . (b) Administration of nationwide permit program In carrying out section 404(e) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1344 ), the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, may not finalize or implement any modification to— (1) general condition 15 (relating to single and complete projects), as included in the final rule titled Reissuance and Modification of Nationwide Permits and published on January 13, 2021, by the Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers (86 Fed. Reg. 2868); (2) the definition of single and complete linear project, as included in such final rule (86 Fed. Reg. 2877); or (3) the definition of single and complete project, as included in section 330.2 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act).