Skip to main content
S 692 115th Congress Senate 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: March 21, 2017 Introduced by: Fischer, Deb Republican · Nebraska See on congress.gov
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
 Everywhere this bill has been 13 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 13, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.
Oct 10, 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.
Oct 10, 2017
Received in the House.
Oct 10, 2017
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Oct 5, 2017
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6373-6374; text: CR S6373-6374)
Oct 5, 2017
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S6373-6374; text: CR S6373-6374)
May 25, 2017
An errata sheet on written report No. 115-87 was printed.
May 25, 2017
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 109.
May 25, 2017
Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Barrasso with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 115-87.
Apr 5, 2017
Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Mar 28, 2017
Committee on Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 115-12.
Mar 21, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Mar 21, 2017
Introduced in Senate
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Water Infrastructure Flexibility Act

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on May 25, 2017. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

(Sec. 3) 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, including requirements relating to: (1) a combined sewer overflow; (2) a capacity, management, operation, and maintenance program for sanitary sewer collection systems; (3) a municipal stormwater discharge; (4) a municipal wastewater discharge; and (5) a total maximum daily load program.

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.

(Sec. 4) 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.

(Sec. 5) 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 October 13, 2017

Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.

 Committees of jurisdiction 5
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Democratic 2 Republican 1