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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 1971 (115th)

Water Infrastructure Flexibility Act

referredUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

6 April 2017

Last action

7 April 2017 · Referred

Status

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

Sponsors

Rep. Smucker, Lloyd [R-PA-11], Rep. Latta, Robert E. [R-OH-5]

Subjects

Environment, Transport

Source updated

5 December 2025

Environment · Transport

Summary

Water Infrastructure Flexibility Act This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to allow municipalities to develop a plan that integrates wastewater and stormwater management. A permit for a municipal discharge under the national pollutant discharge elimination system that incorporates an integrated plan may integrate all requirements under the Act addressed in the plan. Those permits may include a schedule of compliance that allows actions for meeting water quality-based effluent limitations to be implemented over more than one permit term if the compliance schedules are authorized by state water quality standards. Those actions may include implementing green infrastructure as part of a water quality-based effluent limitation. (Green infrastructure includes measures that mimic natural processes to store, reuse, or reduce stormwater.) The bill establishes an Office of the Municipal Ombudsman in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide: (1) technical assistance to municipalities seeking to comply with the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act, and (2) information to the EPA to ensure that agency policies are implemented by all EPA offices. The EPA must ensure that specified EPA offices promote the integration of green infrastructure into permitting programs, planning efforts, research, technical assistance, and funding guidance. The bill establishes requirements for revising the EPA's 1997 guidance about combined sewer overflows, including by setting forth criteria for determining the ability of households to pay utility bills. (Combined sewer systems collect rainwater, sewage, and industrial wastewater into one pipe. During storms, the combined wastewater sometimes exceeds the capacity of the treatment plant. When this occurs, combined sewer overflows discharge directly into water bodies.)

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Timeline

  1. 6 April 2017

    Introduced

    Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 6 April 2017

    Introduced

    Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 6 April 2017

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 6 April 2017

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  5. 7 April 2017

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

3 official files

Introduced in House (text)

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  • Introduced in House (text)

    Introduced in House · EN · 6 April 2017

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

  • Introduced in House (PDF)

    Introduced in House · EN · 6 April 2017

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

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  • Introduced in House

    summary · EN · 6 April 2017

    Open at official source

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Sponsors

Related records

Sources

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