Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to require Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) water quality criteria for any pollutant to be the standard for such pollutant in any State that has not adopted water quality standards, or has adopted less stringent standards, for such pollutant.
Requires Federal agencies or applicants for Federal licenses or permits proposing to conduct any activity which may result in a discharge into navigable waters or the waters of the contiguous zone, or in water quality degradation or impairment of water uses, to provide State certifications that the discharges will comply with certain provisions of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.
Amends the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 to permit States to adopt criteria, rules, or regulations relating to ocean dumping within their jurisdiction only if such criteria, rules, or regulations are more stringent and protective of waters and sediment than those adopted pursuant to such Act.
Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to permit the EPA Administrator, upon finding that a person has failed to obtain an ocean discharge certification or is violating the conditions of such certification, to: (1) order such person to cease activities resulting in discharges until in compliance with such conditions; or (2) bring a civil action.
Prohibits the issuance of permits for discharges into the territorial sea or the contiguous zone until the Administrator provides States whose waters may be affected by such discharges an opportunity to comment or impose conditions with respect to water quality on such permits.
Declares that an EPA regulation authorizing the issuance of permits (under certain conditions) for discharges into the marine environment where there is insufficient information to determine possible environmental degradation shall be null and void.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries.
Referred to the House Committee on Public Works + Transportation.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources.
Executive Comment Requested from Commerce, Interior, Army Corps of Engineers, EPA.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Oceanography, Great Lakes, and the Outer Continental Shelf.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and the Environment.
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