AGC Scores Victory Against EPA Efforts to Revoke State Issued Water Permits

On July 13, the House passed H.R. 2018, the Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act by a vote of 239-184.  The bill will limit the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) authority over states on Clean Water Act decisions.  Specifically, it would prevent the EPA from overruling state water quality standards for pollutants, and limit their ability to veto dredge and gill permits issued by the Army Corps of Engineers.  The bill also gives states more flexibility to administer these permitting programs. In addition, Representative Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.) added an amendment, which would require the EPA to analyze the impact of certain covered actions on employment levels and economic activity, and require public notice and a hearing in those instances where a covered action has more than a de minimis impact on employment or economic activity in any given state. A full summary of H.R. 2018 can be found here. AGC was very active in lobbying for passage of the bill and defeating amendments intended to weaken the legislation.    An AGC letter of support for H.R. 2018 can be found here.  The bill now moves to the Senate where the bill faces an uphill battle. For more information, please contact Sean O’Neill at (202) 547-8892 or oneills@agc.org.