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HR 3935119th CongressIntroduced
Reducing Permitting Uncertainty Act
Introduced: Jun 11, 2025
Environment & ClimateInfrastructure
Standard Summary
Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs
The Reducing Permitting Uncertainty Act would modify the Clean Water Act’s Section 404(c) process to create a defined window during which the Administrator can prohibit or withdraw the designation of any area as a disposal site for dredged or fill material. The new period would begin when an applicant has submitted all information needed to complete a permit application and would end when the permit is issued by the Secretary. The amendments would apply to permit applications submitted after the bill’s enactment. The goal is to provide a clear, time-bound process to reduce uncertainty for applicants during permit reviews, while still allowing environmental review and protections to occur within that window.
Key Points
- 1The bill is titled the “Reducing Permitting Uncertainty Act.”
- 2It adds a new paragraph establishing a defined “Period of prohibition” for specifying or withdrawing a disposal site, tied to Section 404(c)’s process.
- 3The new period begins when an applicant has submitted all required information to complete a permit application.
- 4The period ends when the Secretary issues the permit.
- 5The amendments are prospective, applying to permit applications submitted after enactment.
Impact Areas
Primary group/area affected: Developers and project sponsors seeking Section 404 permits for dredged or fill material projects (e.g., infrastructure, construction, mining), who would gain a defined timeline for site prohibition decisions.Secondary group/area affected: Federal and state permitting agencies (e.g., EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers) that administer the 404 program, as the bill changes timing expectations for site prohibitions.Additional impacts: Possible effects on environmental review timelines and public notice processes, and potential risk that if a permit is not issued, the prohibition period might not end, potentially extending the window where site specifications are restricted. The provision may also influence considerations of disposal-site selection and project planning by affected communities and environmental stakeholders.
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