To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to limit attorney fees and penalties in citizen suits, and for other purposes.

Summary

This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to limit the amount that may be awarded for the costs of litigation in citizen suits. An award of litigation costs may not exceed: (1) an amount that is proportional to the number of successful claims included in the complaint, or (2) the amount of monetary penalties. The award of litigation costs must be based on the prevailing rates in the local market area where the violation occurred for the kind and quality of the services furnished. Citizen suits may not be commenced if the Environmental Protection Agency or a state has commenced and is diligently prosecuting a civil or criminal action through the issuance of a compliance order. The bill provides for certain affirmative defenses for a person who may be liable for the unlawful discharge of a pollutant under the Clean Water Act.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

1. 29 July 2015

   Introduced

   Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 29 July 2015

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 29 July 2015

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 30 July 2015

   Referred

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

   Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Introduced in House · 29 July 2015 · Official file

Documents

3 official files

• Introduced in House (text)

  Introduced in House · EN · 29 July 2015

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House (PDF)

  Introduced in House · EN · 29 July 2015

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 29 July 2015

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Duncan Hunter · R · Sponsor
• Tom McClintock · R · Sponsor
• Ken Calvert · R · Sponsor
• ED ROYCE · R · Cosponsor
• DANA ROHRABACHER · R · Cosponsor
• · hspw00 · Standing

Related records

• related to → To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to limit attorney fees and penalties in citizen suits, and for other purposes.