Bill Summary
The "Confidence in Clean Water Permits Act" proposes amendments to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, particularly focusing on the scope and compliance of water discharge permits. Key provisions include:
1. **Clarification of Compliance**: The act clarifies that compliance with a permit covers not only pollutants explicitly limited by the permit but also any pollutants that are monitored or controlled through specific indicators identified during the permit process.
2. **Technical Corrections**: It includes technical corrections to existing language within the act to ensure clarity and consistency.
3. **Water Quality-Based Effluent Limitations**: The act allows for the inclusion of water quality-based limitations in permits. If necessary, these limitations must specify the pollutant involved and clearly describe how compliance can be achieved, either through a numerical limit or a narrative description of required actions.
Overall, the legislation aims to enhance the effectiveness and clarity of water pollution permits, thereby contributing to improved water quality management.
Possible Impacts
The "Confidence in Clean Water Permits Act" is designed to amend existing water pollution control legislation, potentially affecting various stakeholders. Here are three examples of how this legislation could impact people:
1. **Improved Water Quality for Communities**: The legislation aims to enhance the scope of permits under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, which could lead to stricter monitoring and control of pollutants discharged into water bodies. As a result, communities near these water sources may experience improved water quality, reducing health risks associated with contaminated water and promoting safer recreational activities (e.g., swimming, fishing).
2. **Increased Accountability for Industries**: The amendments to the permit compliance requirements could place greater accountability on industries that discharge pollutants. By specifying that compliance includes not only pollutants with established limits but also those identified during the permit application process, industries may need to invest in better waste management practices or technologies to meet the expanded compliance criteria. This could lead to increased operational costs, impacting jobs and economic viability in sectors heavily reliant on water discharges.
3. **Enhanced Regulatory Clarity for Permittees**: The legislation includes provisions for clearer expressions of water quality-based effluent limitations, requiring permits to specify pollutants and compliance measures explicitly. This clarity can help businesses and municipalities better understand their obligations and how to achieve compliance, potentially reducing the risk of violations and associated penalties. For those involved in environmental management and compliance, this may result in more straightforward procedures and fewer compliance disputes, ultimately fostering better relationships between regulatory agencies and permit holders.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3897 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3897
To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act with respect to the
scope of permits, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 11, 2025
Mr. Taylor introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act with respect to the
scope of permits, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Confidence in Clean Water Permits
Act''.
SEC. 2. 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 a limitation that--
``(1) specifies the pollutant to which it applies; and
``(2) clearly describes the manner in which compliance with
the limitation may be achieved, which shall include--
``(A) a numerical limit on the discharge of such
pollutant; or
``(B) a narrative description of required actions
(including any measures or practices required to be
applied).''.
<all>