Skip to main content
HR 1624 108th Congress House

Clean Water Enforcement and Compliance Improvement Act of 2003

Official title: To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to improve the enforcement and compliance programs.

Introduced: April 3, 2003 Introduced by: Pallone, Frank Democratic · New Jersey See on congress.gov
Environmental Protection Administrative procedureAdministrative remediesAgriculture and FoodAnimals
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
CancerCarcinogensCitizen lawsuitsCitizen participationCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCivil actions and liabilityCommerceComputersCongressCongressional reporting requirementsConsent decreesConsumer educationCrime and Law EnforcementDamagesDepressed areasDisciplining of employeesDiscrimination in employmentEconomics and Public FinanceElectronic data interchangeElectronic government informationEmployee rightsEnvironmental Protection AgencyEnvironmental assessmentEnvironmental healthEnvironmental justiceEnvironmental law enforcementEnvironmental protection groupsEvidence (Law)Federal aid to water pollution controlFederal-local relationsFederal-state relationsFeesFines (Penalties)FisheriesFishery managementFishingFood safetyFreedom of informationGovernment Operations and PoliticsGovernment contractorsGovernment liabilityGovernment paperworkGovernment trust fundsGovernmental investigationsHabitat conservationHealthIndustrial pollutionInfrastructureJudicial reviewLabor and EmploymentLawLegal feesLiability for environmental damagesLicensesMarine and coastal resources, fisheriesMarine pollutionOil pollutionPlanningPollution measurementProsecutionPublic Lands and Natural ResourcesRight of petitionScience, Technology, CommunicationsShellfishSigns and signboardsSports and RecreationStandardsState lawsSubpoenaTelephoneUnemploymentWaste disposal in rivers, lakes, etc.Waste water treatmentWater Resources DevelopmentWater pollution controlWater qualityWater treatment plantsWatershedsWhistle blowingWildlife conservationWitnesses
This bill died when the 108th Congress ended
It never became law before the 108th Congress (2003–2004) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 4, 2003
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
Apr 3, 2003
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Apr 3, 2003
Introduced in House
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Latest action April 4, 2003

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
Clean Water Enforcement and Compliance Improvement Act of 2003- Amends enforcement provisions of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA) regarding: (1) findings concerning harm caused and citizen suits; (2) compliance under State permits; (3) recordkeeping, effluent monitoring, and notice of pollution information; (4) priority areas (with a high degree of economic distress or social disenfranchisement); (5) violations of pretreatment requirements; (6) amounts of penalties; (7) the effect of State actions upon Federal ones; (8) inspection of significantly noncomplying facilities; and (9) the scope of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emergency powers.

Revises State pollutant discharge permit program requirements concerning program approval, inspection, monitoring, introduction of pollutants into publicly owned treatment works, poor compliance histories, submission of pollution prevention plans, and reporting.

Restricts the duration of permits that modify effluent limitations for toxic pollutants to two years and requires a hearing concerning owner-operator control and reasonable progress.

Authorizes citizen suits for past violations of effluent standards or limitations if there is evidence of repeated violations.

Includes in employee protections a prohibition against harassment or prosecution of, or discrimination against, persons for assisting in achieving compliance with, or refusing to violate, FWPCA.

Expands EPA subpoena authority and subjects additional actions under FWPCA to judicial review.

Establishes the Clean Water Trust Fund for mitigation projects.

Makes Federal agencies subject to all Federal, State, and local water pollution control and abatement requirements in the same manner as any other person. Waives sovereign immunity of the United States with respect to such requirements.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1624: Clean Water Enforcement and Compliance Improvement Act of 2003. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-1624/
MLA
"H.R. 1624: Clean Water Enforcement and Compliance Improvement Act of 2003." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-1624/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1624, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-1624/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1624: Clean Water Enforcement and Compliance Improvement Act of 2003](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-1624/)
Report a problem