Water Infrastructure Improvement Act became law 33 days after introduction, with cosponsors split almost evenly between the parties
Written by the Congressional Research Service [2]. 285 words.
Water Infrastructure Improvement Act
(Sec. 3) This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to allow municipalities to develop a plan that integrates wastewater and stormwater management. A permit for a municipal discharge under the national pollutant discharge elimination system that incorporates an integrated plan may integrate all requirements under the Act addressed in the plan, such as requirements relating to combined sewer overflows, sanitary sewer collection systems, and total maximum daily loads. A plan that is incorporated into a permit may include the implementation of green infrastructure and projects to reclaim, recycle, or reuse water. Green infrastructure includes measures that mimic natural processes to store, reuse, or reduce stormwater. Those permits may include a schedule of compliance that allows actions for meeting water quality-based effluent limitations to be implemented over more than one permit term if the compliance schedules are authorized by state water quality standards. A municipality under an administrative order or settlement agreement may request a modification of the order or settlement based on the municipality's integrated plan. The EPA must report on each integrated plan developed and implemented through a permit, order, or judicial consent decree since June 5, 2012, including a description of the control measures, levels of control, estimated costs, and compliance schedules for the requirements implemented through such a plan.
(Sec. 4) The bill establishes an Office of the Municipal Ombudsman in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide: (1) technical assistance to municipalities seeking to comply with the Clean Water Act, and (2) information to the EPA to ensure that agency policies are implemented by all EPA offices.
(Sec. 5) The EPA must promote the use of green infrastructure.
- Committees
- House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
- Policy area
- Environmental Protection: 29 of 2,191 bills became law, 113th–118th (1.3%)
- Sponsor
- 2 of 47 bills enacted since 2013
- Text versions
- 5, from enrolled bill to public law · 1,798 words
- Subjects
- Civil actions and liabilityCongressional oversightEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA)Executive agency funding and structureGovernment information and archivesIntergovernmental relations +6 more
- Latest action
- Jan 14, 2019: Became Public Law No: 115-436.
- Records
- Congress.gov · Bill text
Each bill appears once, under its strongest link. 3 in all.
Related, per CRS or House · 3
- 115th H.R. 1971 Water Infrastructure Flexibility Act R · Introduced
- 115th H.R. 2355 Water Infrastructure Flexibility Act R · Introduced
- 115th S. 692 Water Infrastructure Flexibility Act R · Passed one chamber