H.R. 3888: Water Quality Criteria Development and Transparency Act

The proposed bill, known as the Water Quality Criteria Development and Transparency Act, aims to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. It focuses on improving the process for developing and issuing water quality criteria, which are essential for protecting water resources and public health.

Key Provisions of the Bill

• Criteria Development: The bill mandates the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue any new or revised water quality criteria through a formal rule-making process. This ensures that changes to water quality standards follow a structured procedure, promoting transparency and public participation.
• Administrative Procedures: The bill adds a new requirement under Section 304(a) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, which specifies that any revision or new criteria must be enacted as a rule. This change is intended to enhance accountability and establish clearer guidelines for how water quality criteria are set.
• Judicial Review: The bill modifies Section 509(b)(1) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to expand the scope of judicial review related to water quality criteria. This means courts will have a clearer framework to evaluate the validity of the criteria set by the EPA.

General Impact

This legislation is aimed at reinforcing the regulatory framework surrounding water quality standards. By requiring formal rule-making for water quality criteria, the bill seeks to make the process more transparent and allows for greater involvement from stakeholders in the rule-setting process. The expansion of judicial review aims to ensure that any criteria issued are subject to legal scrutiny, potentially leading to improved environmental protections.

Relevant Companies

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