Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Green Stormwater Infrastructure Investment Act”.
Green Stormwater Infrastructure Investment Act
A BILL
To provide incentives for investment in green stormwater infrastructure, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Definition
Section 502 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1362) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(27) Green stormwater infrastructure
“(A) In general—The term green stormwater infrastructure means any stormwater management technique that—
“(i) uses natural systems or engineered systems that mimic natural processes to infiltrate, evapotranspire, or filter stormwater; and
“(ii) preserves, enhances, or mimics natural hydrology to protect or restore water quality.
“(B) Inclusions—The term green stormwater infrastructure includes—
“(i) systems that promote absorption, uptake, evapotranspiration, filtration by soil and plant life, and stormwater system resiliency, such as bioretention, permeable pavements, green roofs, and natural vegetation; and
“(ii) the preservation or restoration of—
“(I) interconnected networks of natural land or topography that protect essential ecological functions critical for water quality;
“(II) ecological function, including forests, grasslands, and deserts;
“(III) bodies of water, including lakes, rivers, flood plains, headwaters, creeks, wetlands, estuaries, and sounds; and
“(IV) native soil characteristics of composition, structure, and transmissivity.”
Sec. 3 Green stormwater infrastructure reserve
Title VI of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“609. Green stormwater infrastructure reserve
“(a) In general—To the extent there are sufficient eligible project applications, not less than 20 percent of the funds made available under this title to each State shall be used by the State for projects that are otherwise eligible under this title and include a green stormwater infrastructure component.
“(b) Operation and maintenance—Funds reserved under this section may be used for operation and maintenance costs of green stormwater infrastructure constructed using funds reserved under this section.”
Sec. 4 Public transportation projects
In general— Chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
“5341. Priority for green stormwater infrastructure projects
“(a) In general—In selecting public transportation infrastructure projects to receive financial assistance under this chapter or any other provision of law, the Secretary shall prioritize projects that include green stormwater infrastructure, as defined in section 502 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1362).
“(b) TIGER grant program—The projects referred to in subsection (a) include projects selected under the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery competitive grant program.”
Clerical amendment— The analysis for chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
Sec. 5 Permitting green stormwater infrastructure
Section 402 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1342) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(s) Green stormwater infrastructure—Notwithstanding subsection (b)(1)(B), a permit under this section for green stormwater infrastructure may be for a term not to exceed 10 years.”