Water Infrastructure Flexibility Act
USA115th CongressS-692| Senate
| Updated: 10/13/2017
Deb Fischer
Republican Senator
Nebraska
Cosponsors (9)
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Environment Subcommittee, Environment and Public Works Committee, Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife Subcommittee, Energy and Commerce Committee
- Introduced
- In Committee
- On Floor
- Passed Chamber
- Enacted
Water Infrastructure Flexibility Act (This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on May 25, 2017. The summary of that version is repeated here.) (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, including requirements relating to: (1) a combined sewer overflow; (2) a capacity, management, operation, and maintenance program for sanitary sewer collection systems; (3) a municipal stormwater discharge; (4) a municipal wastewater discharge; and (5) a total maximum daily load program. 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. Those actions may include implementing green infrastructure as part of a water quality-based effluent limitation. (Green infrastructure includes measures that mimic natural processes to store, reuse, or reduce stormwater.) 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 the Safe Drinking Water Act, and (2) information to the EPA to ensure that agency policies are implemented by all EPA offices. (Sec. 4) The EPA must ensure that specified EPA offices promote the integration of green infrastructure into permitting programs, planning efforts, research, technical assistance, and funding guidance. (Sec. 5) The bill establishes requirements for revising the EPA's 1997 guidance about combined sewer overflows, including by setting forth criteria for determining the ability of households to pay utility bills. (Combined sewer systems collect rainwater, sewage, and industrial wastewater into one pipe. During storms, the combined wastewater sometimes exceeds the capacity of the treatment plant. When this occurs, combined sewer overflows discharge directly into water bodies.)
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Timeline
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Committee on Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 115-12.
Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Barrasso with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 115-87.
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 109.
An errata sheet on written report No. 115-87 was printed.
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S6373-6374; text: CR S6373-6374)
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6373-6374; text: CR S6373-6374)
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Received in the House.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.
Environmental Protection
Congressional oversightEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA)Executive agency funding and structureInfrastructure developmentIntergovernmental relationsLicensing and registrationsPublic utilities and utility ratesState and local government operationsWater qualityWater use and supply
Water Infrastructure Flexibility Act
USA115th CongressS-692| Senate
| Updated: 10/13/2017
Water Infrastructure Flexibility Act (This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on May 25, 2017. The summary of that version is repeated here.) (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, including requirements relating to: (1) a combined sewer overflow; (2) a capacity, management, operation, and maintenance program for sanitary sewer collection systems; (3) a municipal stormwater discharge; (4) a municipal wastewater discharge; and (5) a total maximum daily load program. 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. Those actions may include implementing green infrastructure as part of a water quality-based effluent limitation. (Green infrastructure includes measures that mimic natural processes to store, reuse, or reduce stormwater.) 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 the Safe Drinking Water Act, and (2) information to the EPA to ensure that agency policies are implemented by all EPA offices. (Sec. 4) The EPA must ensure that specified EPA offices promote the integration of green infrastructure into permitting programs, planning efforts, research, technical assistance, and funding guidance. (Sec. 5) The bill establishes requirements for revising the EPA's 1997 guidance about combined sewer overflows, including by setting forth criteria for determining the ability of households to pay utility bills. (Combined sewer systems collect rainwater, sewage, and industrial wastewater into one pipe. During storms, the combined wastewater sometimes exceeds the capacity of the treatment plant. When this occurs, combined sewer overflows discharge directly into water bodies.)
Suggested Questions
Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better
Timeline
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Committee on Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 115-12.
Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Barrasso with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 115-87.
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 109.
An errata sheet on written report No. 115-87 was printed.
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S6373-6374; text: CR S6373-6374)
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6373-6374; text: CR S6373-6374)
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Received in the House.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.
Deb Fischer
Republican Senator
Nebraska
Cosponsors (9)
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Environment Subcommittee, Environment and Public Works Committee, Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife Subcommittee, Energy and Commerce Committee
Environmental Protection
Related Bills
- HR 115-7279: Water Infrastructure Improvement Act
- HR 115-1971: To provide for integrated plan permits, to establish an Office of the Municipal Ombudsman, to promote green infrastructure, and to require the revision of financial capability guidance.
- HR 115-2355: To provide for integrated plan permits, to establish an Office of the Municipal Ombudsman, to promote green infrastructure, and to require the revision of financial capability guidance.
- S 115-2800: America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018
- Introduced
- In Committee
- On Floor
- Passed Chamber
- Enacted
Congressional oversightEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA)Executive agency funding and structureInfrastructure developmentIntergovernmental relationsLicensing and registrationsPublic utilities and utility ratesState and local government operationsWater qualityWater use and supply