Section 1 Study on cost of compliance with permit requirements
In general— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall conduct a study analyzing the cost to permit applicants and permit holders of complying with sections 402 and 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1342 and 1344), including—
with respect to such section 402, costs associated with applications, permitting time, compliance with effluent limitations and best management practices, and monitoring; and
with respect to such section 404, costs associated with applications, permitting time, impact avoidance and minimization, and compensatory mitigation.
Contents of study— The study required under subsection (a) shall include an analysis, with respect to the 5 years prior to the date of enactment of this Act, of—
the total cost to all permit applicants and permit holders of complying with sections 402 and 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1342 and 1344);
the average cost to a permit applicant or permit holder of complying with such sections, including such average cost in each such year;
the cost to permit applicants and permit holders of complying with such sections based on the type of permit applicant or permit holder and the economic sector to which such permit applicant or permit holder belongs; and
a comparison of such costs in urban and rural areas.
Submission— Upon completion of the study required under subsection (a), the Secretary of the Army and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a report containing the results of such study.