To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act with respect to permitting terms, and for other purposes.
This bill would modify the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) provisions of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (the Clean Water Act) by codifying maximum permit durations. Specifically, it sets fixed term limits: up to 10 years for permits issued to states or municipalities, and up to 5 years for permits issued to all other entities. In addition, the bill makes technical corrections to ensure consistent language and cross-references within section 402(l)(3). Overall, the measure aims to standardize and extend certain permit terms for municipal/state dischargers while aligning statutory language. The changes appear to be focused on permit duration rules and editorial clarity in the statute, with no new substantive requirements outside the term limits and the cited editorial corrections.
Key Points
- 1Establishes maximum fixed terms for NPDES permits: up to 10 years for permits to states or municipalities; up to 5 years for all other permittees.
- 2Distinguishes permit duration by recipient type: state/municipality versus other individuals or entities.
- 3Uses the phrase “fixed terms” for these permit durations, codifying a ceiling rather than a fluctuating renewal period.
- 4Includes technical corrections to section 402(l)(3) to standardize terminology and cross-references (e.g., capitalization, reference phrases like “this section” and “subsection”).
- 5Acts primarily as a policy change to permit timing and as a housekeeping, editorial update to the statutory language.