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HR 2809 114th Congress House Environmental Protection Government trust funds Great Lakes Pollution liability Solid waste and recycling Water quality

Great Lakes Water Protection Act

Introduced: June 17, 2015 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 114th Congress ended
It never became law before the 114th Congress (2015–2016) 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 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 18, 2015
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
Jun 17, 2015
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Jun 17, 2015
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H4448)
Jun 17, 2015
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Great Lakes Water Protection Act

This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to prohibit a publicly owned treatment works (POTW) from discharging untreated or partially treated sewage into the Great Lakes or a tributary of the Great Lakes when the discharge is the result of the POTW intentionally diverting waste streams to bypass any portion of a treatment facility. A bypass is allowed if: (1) it is unavoidable to prevent loss of life, personal injury, or severe property damage, there is no feasible alternative, and the treatment works provides notice; or (2) it does not cause effluent (waste) limitations to be exceeded and is for essential maintenance to ensure efficient operation of the treatment facility.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must work with relevant states to create requirements for providing immediate notice to the public about discharges.

The EPA must establish procedures to ensure that permits issued to POTWs under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System include requirements to comply with this bill.

This bill establishes a maximum civil penalty of $100,000 per day for violations of the bill occurring on or after January 1, 2035. The penalties must be deposited into the Great Lakes Cleanup Fund, which is established by this bill. The Fund must be used for improving wastewater discharges.

What's happening now June 18, 2015

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

 Related & companion bills 3
  • S 1645 Related bill Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016
  • S 2132 Related bill An Act Making Appropriations to Stop Regulatory Excess and for Other Purposes, 2016
  • S 1586 Identical bill Great Lakes Water Protection Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Democratic 1
D
Quigley, Mike
Illinois · Jun 17, 2015
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2809: Great Lakes Water Protection Act. 114th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-2809/
MLA
"H.R. 2809: Great Lakes Water Protection Act." 114th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-2809/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2809, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-2809/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2809: Great Lakes Water Protection Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-2809/)
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