Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Focused Reduction of Effluence and Stormwater runoff through Hydrofracking Environmental Regulation Act of 2015” or the “FRESHER Act of 2015”.
Focused Reduction of Effluence and Stormwater runoff through Hydrofracking Environmental Regulation Act of 2015
A BILL
To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study with respect to stormwater runoff from oil and gas operations, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Stormwater runoff from oil, gas, and mining operations
Limitation on permit requirement— Section 402(l) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1342(l)) is amended—
by striking paragraph (2);
by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2); and
in paragraph (2)(C) (as so redesignated), by striking “402(l)(3)(A)” each place it appears and inserting “subparagraph (A)”.
by striking paragraph (24); and
by redesignating paragraphs (25) and (26) as paragraphs (24) and (25), respectively.
Study—
In general— The Secretary of the Interior shall conduct a study of stormwater impacts with respect to any area that the Secretary determines may be contaminated by stormwater runoff associated with oil or gas operations, which shall include an analysis of—
measurable contamination in the area;
ground water resources in the area; and
the susceptibility of aquifers in the area to contamination from stormwater runoff associated with the oil or gas operations.
Report— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1).