Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Clean Water Compliance and Affordability Act”.
Clean Water Compliance and Affordability Act
A BILL
To direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to carry out a pilot program to work with municipalities that are seeking to develop and implement integrated plans to meet wastewater and stormwater obligations under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Integrated municipal stormwater and wastewater approach framework
In general— In the first 5 fiscal years beginning after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (referred to in this section as the “Administrator”), in coordination with appropriate State, local, and regional authorities, shall carry out a pilot program under which the Administrator shall work cooperatively with and facilitate the efforts of eligible municipalities to develop and implement integrated plans to meet wastewater and stormwater obligations of the eligible municipalities under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) in a more cost-effective and flexible manner.
Framework— The Administrator shall carry out the pilot program in a manner that is consistent with the Integrated Municipal Stormwater and Wastewater Approach Framework issued by the Environmental Protection Agency and dated May 2012.
Selection of eligible municipalities—
In general— The Administrator, in consultation with States that have approved National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System programs, shall select not less than 15 eligible municipalities to participate in the pilot program.
Eligible municipality— An eligible municipality is a county, city, town, township, or subdivision of a State or local government that—
qualifies as a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit holder or designee; or
is a party to an administrative order, administrative consent agreement, or judicial consent decree to comply with the requirements of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.).
Selection factors—
In general— In selecting the eligible municipalities to participate in the pilot program, the Administrator shall give priority to—
eligible municipalities that are operating under an administrative order, administrative consent agreement, or judicial consent decree to comply with the requirements of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.);
eligible municipalities that are affected by affordability constraints in planning and implementing control measures to address wet weather discharges from wastewater and stormwater facilities of the eligible municipalities; and
eligible municipalities with a history of knowledgeable, detailed, and comprehensive efforts to develop integrated and adaptive clean water management practices.
Use of adaptive management approaches— In selecting eligible municipalities to participate in the pilot program, the Administrator may give priority to an eligible municipality that is seeking to develop and implement an integrated plan that includes adaptive approaches to account for changed or future uncertain circumstances, including—
the use of new innovative technical or institutional approaches; and
the ability to adapt the integrated plan in response to new regulatory requirements and reductions in financial capability.
Approval of integrated plans—
In general— In approving the integrated plan of an eligible municipality under the pilot program established under subsection (a), the Administrator shall—
account for the financial capability of the eligible municipality to adequately address the requirements of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) that apply to the eligible municipality;
prioritize the obligations of the eligible municipality under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) according to the most cost-effective and environmentally beneficial outcomes;
account for the maintenance, operational, and regulatory obligations of the eligible municipality; and
enable the eligible municipality to implement innovative and flexible approaches to meet the obligations of the eligible municipality under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.).
Additional authorities— In carrying out the pilot program established under subsection (a), the Administrator may, in full coordination and mutual agreement with an eligible municipality selected to participate in the pilot program—
extend the allowable national pollutant discharge elimination system permit term under section 402 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1342) to a maximum of 25 years, and make corresponding changes to any associated implementation schedule;
modify the implementation terms of a consent decree entered into by the eligible municipality with the Administrator pursuant to that Act; and
provide additional regulatory flexibility under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) in approving and implementing an integrated plan that includes adaptive approaches in order to encourage the innovation integral to such approaches.
Report to Congress— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and each year thereafter for 5 years, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on the results of the pilot program established under subsection (a), including a description of the specific outcomes expected to be achieved that will reduce the costs of complying with the requirements of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) for—
eligible municipalities participating in the pilot program; and
eligible municipalities that are similarly situated but not participating in the pilot program.