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HR 5516 113th Congress House

Protecting Our Great Lakes Act of 2014

Official title: To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to prohibit the discharge of dredged material into the Great Lakes, and for other purposes.

Introduced: September 17, 2014 Introduced by: Latta, Robert E. Republican · Ohio See on congress.gov
Environmental Protection Great LakesLicensing and registrationsMarine pollutionSolid waste and recyclingWater quality
This bill died when the 113th Congress ended
It never became law before the 113th Congress (2013–2014) 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
Sep 18, 2014
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
Sep 17, 2014
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Sep 17, 2014
Introduced in House
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 Latest action September 18, 2014

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Protecting Our Great Lakes Act of 2014 - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to prohibit any discharge of dredged material into waters within Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake St. Clair, Lake Michigan, Lake Ontario, and Lake Superior lakeward from a line drawn across the mouth of tributaries to the Lakes. Includes within the area protected from discharges all waters enclosed by constructed breakwaters (barriers built in a body of water to break the force of waves and protect surrounding land). Excludes connecting channels from the protected area.

Requires any dredged material resulting from activity in the Great Lakes System to be reused in beneficial ways on land or disposed of in a confined land- or water-based disposal area determined to be economically and environmentally viable by the Army Corps of Engineers in consultation with concerned states.

Treats violators of the prohibition as having violated a condition or limitation set forth in a permit to discharge dredged or fill material into waters of the United States.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5516: Protecting Our Great Lakes Act of 2014. 113th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-5516/
MLA
"H.R. 5516: Protecting Our Great Lakes Act of 2014." 113th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-5516/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5516, 113th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-5516/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5516: Protecting Our Great Lakes Act of 2014](https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-5516/)
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