Confidence in Clean Water Permits Act

This legislation amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to provide greater clarity regarding the scope of compliance for discharge permits. It revises Section 402(k) to define what constitutes compliance, ensuring that permit holders are considered compliant for discharges of pollutants explicitly covered by effluent limitations or those identified during the permit application process. Specifically, compliance extends to pollutants identified as controlled or monitored through indicator parameters, or those present in waste streams or operations specifically identified during the permit application. This aims to provide permittees with a clearer understanding of their obligations and the boundaries of their permit coverage. Furthermore, the bill adds a new subsection requiring that any water quality-based effluent limitations included in a permit must clearly specify the pollutant and describe how compliance can be achieved, either through a numerical limit or a narrative of required actions and practices.