The H.R. 2018: Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act of 2011 was introduced in the House this past May. According to Representative and Committee Chairman John L. Mica, H.R. 2018 restores the partnership between the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and individual states in regulating the nation’s waters. He wants to ensure that the EPA works with states, not in spite of them, in setting reasonable, sound water quality standards. The legislation is directed at preserving the states’ role in their partnership with the EPA and restores their responsibilities to ensure that clean water goals are met.

There are three amendments to H.R. 2018, one of which ensures that permit applications not being acted upon in a timely manner by EPA will receive the same treatment as other permits moving forward. If you are working on or plan to work on a pending Clean Water Act (CWA) permit it is “grandfathered” from H.R. 2018.

U.S. Representative Shelly Moore Capito noted that pending Clean Water permit applications are not being acted upon in a timely manner by the EPA. She believes H.R. 2018 will guarantee that the EPA will have to rule on the delayed Clean Water Act permits and tell companies about the future of their permits. This may help municipalities get their National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits approved more quickly.