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HR 1971 115th Congress House Environmental Protection Congressional oversight Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Executive agency funding and structure Infrastructure development Intergovernmental relations Licensing and registrations Public utilities and utility rates State and local government operations Water quality Water use and supply

Water Infrastructure Flexibility Act

Introduced: April 6, 2017 Introduced by: Smucker, Lloyd Republican · Pennsylvania See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 115th Congress ended
It never became law before the 115th Congress (2017–2018) 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
Apr 7, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
Apr 7, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.
Apr 6, 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.
Apr 6, 2017
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

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.)

What's happening now April 7, 2017

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

 Related & companion bills 4
  • HR 2355 Related bill Water Infrastructure Flexibility Act
  • S 2800 Related bill America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018
  • HR 7279 Related bill Water Infrastructure Improvement Act
  • S 692 Identical bill Water Infrastructure Flexibility Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Republican 1
R
Latta, Robert E.
Ohio · Apr 26, 2017
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1971: Water Infrastructure Flexibility Act. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-1971/
MLA
"H.R. 1971: Water Infrastructure Flexibility Act." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-1971/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1971, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-1971/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1971: Water Infrastructure Flexibility Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-1971/)
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