Skip to main content
S 3573 112th Congress Senate Environmental Protection Administrative law and regulatory procedures Civil actions and liability Economic performance and conditions Education programs funding Energy prices Energy revenues and royalties Energy storage, supplies, demand Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental regulatory procedures Hazardous wastes and toxic substances Indian lands and resources rights Intergovernmental relations Judicial review and appeals Land use and conservation Oil and gas State and local government operations Unemployment Water quality Water use and supply

Empower States Act of 2012

Introduced: September 19, 2012 Introduced by: Hoeven, John Republican · North Dakota See on congress.gov
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Sep 19, 2012
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Sep 19, 2012
Introduced in Senate
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Empower States Act of 2012 - Amends the Safe Drinking Water Act, with respect to enforcement of drinking water regulations, to prohibit the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from taking any enforcement action against a state with primary enforcement responsibility for public water systems or a company or individual within the state, unless: (1) the Administrator determines that there is an imminent and substantial danger to the public health or environment, and (2) the state failed to take corrective action.

Prohibits the Administrator from amending or revoking any program of a state with partial or total primary enforcement responsibility unless the Administrator determines, by clear and convincing evidence, that the program fails to effectively protect drinking water in the state.

Requires the head of a federal department or agency, before issuing or promulgating any guideline or regulation relating to oil and gas exploration and production on federal, state, tribal, or fee land pursuant to federal law or executive order, to seek comments from and consult with the head of each affected state, state agency, and Indian tribe at a location within their jurisdiction.

Requires federal departments and agencies to develop Statements of Energy and Economic Impact that detail and analyze: (1) adverse effects of an action on energy supply, distribution, or use; and (2) impact on the domestic economy if the action is taken.

Prohibits imposition of any new or modified oil and gas regulation unless the head of the applicable department or agency determines: (1) that the rule is necessary to prevent immediate harm to human health or the environment, and (2) by clear and convincing evidence that the state or tribe does not have an existing reasonable alternative to the proposed regulation.

Requires any regulation promulgated after enactment of this Act that requires disclosure of hydraulic fracturing chemicals to refer to the database managed by the Ground Water Protection Council and the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission.

Sets forth procedures for judicial review of such regulations.

What's happening now September 19, 2012

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Republican 2