House Bill Aims to Remove EPA's Ability To Override State Clean Water Act Authority

摘要

The Environmental Protection Agency's authority to regulate permits for dredge-and-fill activities and to supersede state-approved pollutant discharge permits, water quality certifications, and water quality standards would be stripped under a bill introduced by Reps. John Mica (R-Fla.) and Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.). The Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act of 2011 (H.R. 2018) would amend the Clean Water Act by stripping EPA of its ability to veto dredge-and-fill permits issued under Section 404 and to revise state water quality standards approved under Section 303 and replace them with federal guidance.