Bill Sponsor
Senate Bill 692
115th Congress(2017-2018)
Water Infrastructure Flexibility Act
Active
Active
Passed Senate on Oct 5, 2017
Overview
Text
Introduced
Mar 21, 2017
Latest Action
Oct 13, 2017
Origin Chamber
Senate
Type
Bill
Bill
The primary form of legislative measure used to propose law. Depending on the chamber of origin, bills begin with a designation of either H.R. or S. Joint resolution is another form of legislative measure used to propose law.
Bill Number
692
Congress
115
Policy Area
Environmental Protection
Environmental Protection
Primary focus of measure is regulation of pollution including from hazardous substances and radioactive releases; climate change and greenhouse gases; environmental assessment and research; solid waste and recycling; ecology. Measures concerning energy exploration, efficiency, and conservation may fall under Energy policy area.
Sponsorship by Party
Republican
Nebraska
Republican
Arkansas
Democrat
Maryland
Democrat
Minnesota
Republican
Missouri
Democrat
New Jersey
Republican
Oklahoma
Senate Votes (1)
House Votes (0)
checkPassed on October 5, 2017
Status
Passed
Type
Unanimous Consent
Unanimous Consent
A senator may request unanimous consent on the floor to set aside a specified rule of procedure so as to expedite proceedings. If no Senator objects, the Senate permits the action, but if any one senator objects, the request is rejected. Unanimous consent requests with only immediate effects are routinely granted, but ones affecting the floor schedule, the conditions of considering a bill or other business, or the rights of other senators, are normally not offered, or a floor leader will object to it, until all senators concerned have had an opportunity to inform the leaders that they find it acceptable.
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S6373-6374; text: CR S6373-6374)
Summary

Water Infrastructure Flexibility Act

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. 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.

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.

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.)

Text (4)
October 10, 2017
October 5, 2017
May 25, 2017
March 21, 2017
Actions (13)
10/13/2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.
10/10/2017
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.
10/10/2017
Received in the House.
10/10/2017
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
10/05/2017
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6373-6374; text: CR S6373-6374)
10/05/2017
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S6373-6374; text: CR S6373-6374)
05/25/2017
An errata sheet on written report No. 115-87 was printed.
05/25/2017
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 109.
05/25/2017
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.
04/05/2017
Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
03/28/2017
Committee on Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 115-12.
03/21/2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
03/21/2017
Introduced in Senate
Public Record
Record Updated
Jan 11, 2023 1:36:14 PM