Amendment codifies the EPA's silviculture rule which provides that mud and rock runoff from forest roads should not be categorized in the same manner as industrial parking lots or factories.

1. Adds SEC. 123__. SILVICULTURAL ACTIVITIES at the end of subtitle C of title XII

   Adds a section

   Inserted: SEC. 123__. SILVICULTURAL ACTIVITIES.

   Inserted: Section 402(l) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1342(l)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

   Inserted: "(3) Silvicultural activities.--

   Inserted: "(A) NPDES permit requirements for silvicultural activities.--The Administrator shall not require a permit or otherwise promulgate regulations under this section or directly or indirectly require any State to require a permit under this section for a discharge of stormwater runoff resulting from the conduct of the following silviculture activities: nursery operations, site preparation, reforestation and subsequent cultural treatment, thinning, prescribed burning, pest and fire control, harvesting operations, surface drainage, and road use, construction, and maintenance.

   Inserted: "(B) Permits for dredged or fill material.--Nothing in this paragraph exempts a silvicultural activity resulting in the discharge of dredged or fill material from any permitting requirement under section 404.".

   Original wording

   At the end of subtitle C of title XII, add the following:

Read automatically from the Congressional Record. Check the original before relying on it.

As printed