H.R. 2205House116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

Water Quality Certification Improvement Act of 2019

Introduced April 10, 2019

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 4:06 AM UTC

The Water Quality Certification Improvement Act of 2019 changes the Clean Water Act’s Section 401 certification process. It clarifies that the certification applies to any discharge the applicant proposes, requires states or agencies to publish the exact criteria they will use, and obligates them to base decisions solely on the water‑quality standards in sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307. The bill also forces written explanations for decisions, a 90‑day response window for additional information requests, and makes compliance with those sections a condition of any federal license or permit.

Key Provisions

  • Adds “by the applicant” language so certification concerns any discharge the applicant intends to make into navigable waters.
  • Requires certifying states, interstate agencies, or the EPA Administrator to publish the certification requirements that meet sections 301‑307 of the Clean Water Act.
  • Decisions to grant or deny a certification must be based only on those sections, and the reasons must be provided in writing to the applicant.
  • Sets a 90‑day deadline for the certifying authority to identify any additional information needed and to notify the EPA Administrator of the request.
  • Makes compliance with sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307 a condition of any federal license or permit.
  • Defines “applicable provisions of sections 301‑307” and requires water‑quality criteria that support the designated uses of the receiving water.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions
HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

April 11, 2019

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

April 10, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

April 10, 2019

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

April 11, 2019

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about H.R. 2205 on the floor

1 Republican
David B. McKinley
Rep. David B. McKinleyR-WV-1 · Jun 27, 2019

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have Representative Brian Fitzpatrick's name removed from H.R. 2205 as a cosponsor. His name was added inadvertently.

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued April 10, 2019

I

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2205

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 10, 2019

Mr. McKinley (for himself, Mr. Gianforte, Mr. Gibbs, Mr. LaMalfa, Ms. Cheney, Mr. Stauber, and Mr. Kevin Hern of Oklahoma) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

A BILL

To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to make changes with respect to water quality certification, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Water Quality Certification Improvement Act of 2019.

2.

Certification

Section 401 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1341) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a)—

(A)

in paragraph (1)—

(i)

in the first sentence—

(I)

by inserting by the applicant after any discharge; and

(II)

by inserting as a result of the federally licensed or permitted activity after into the navigable waters;

(ii)

in the second sentence, by striking activity and inserting discharge;

(iii)

in the third sentence, by striking applications each place it appears and inserting requests;

(iv)

in the fifth sentence, by striking act on and inserting grant or deny; and

(v)

by inserting after the fourth sentence the following: The certifying State, interstate agency, or Administrator shall publish the requirements for certification that meet the applicable provisions of sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307. The decision to grant or deny a request shall be based only on the applicable provisions of sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307 and the grounds for a decision shall be set forth in writing to the applicant.;

(B)

in paragraph (2)—

(i)

in the second sentence—

(I)

by striking such a discharge and inserting a discharge made into the navigable waters by the applicant as described in paragraph (1);

(II)

by inserting receipt of the before notice; and

(III)

by striking of application for such Federal license or permit and inserting under the preceding sentence;

(ii)

in the third sentence—

(I)

by striking such discharge and inserting any discharge made into the navigable waters by the applicant as described in paragraph (1); and

(II)

by striking any water quality requirement and inserting the applicable provisions of sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307;

(iii)

in the fifth sentence, by striking insure compliance with applicable water quality requirements. and inserting ensure any discharge into the navigable waters by the applicant as described in paragraph (1) will comply with the applicable provisions of sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307.; and

(iv)

by striking the first sentence and inserting Not later than 90 days after receipt of a request for certification, the certifying State, interstate agency, or Administrator shall identify in writing all specific additional materials or information that are necessary to make a final decision on a request for certification. On receipt of a request for certification, the certifying State or interstate agency, as applicable, shall immediately notify the Administrator of the request.;

(C)

in paragraph (3)—

(i)

in the first sentence, by striking there will be compliance and inserting a discharge made into the navigable waters by the applicant as described in paragraph (1) will comply; and

(ii)

in the second sentence—

(I)

by striking section and inserting the applicable provisions of sections; and

(II)

by striking or 307 of this Act and inserting and 307;

(D)

in paragraph (4)—

(i)

in the first sentence, by striking applicable effluent limitations and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting any discharge made by the applicant into the navigable waters as described in paragraph (1) will not violate the applicable provisions of sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307.;

(ii)

in the second sentence, by striking will violate applicable effluent limitations or other limitations or other water quality requirements such Federal and inserting will result in a discharge made into the navigable waters by the applicant as described in paragraph (1) that violates the applicable provisions of sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307, the Federal; and

(iii)

in the third sentence—

(I)

by striking such facility or activity and inserting a discharge made by the applicant into the navigable waters as described in paragraph (1); and

(II)

by striking section 301, 302, 303, 306, or 307 of this Act and inserting sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307; and

(E)

in paragraph (5)—

(i)

by striking such facility or activity has been operated in and inserting any discharge made by the applicant into the navigable waters as described in paragraph (1) is in; and

(ii)

by striking section 301, 302, 303, 306, or 307 of this Act and inserting sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307; and

(2)

in subsection (d), by striking assure that any applicant for a Federal license or permit will comply with any applicable and inserting the following: “ensure that any discharge made by the applicant into the navigable waters as described in subsection (a)(1) shall comply with the applicable provisions of sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307. Any limitations or requirements in the preceding sentence shall become a condition on any Federal license or permit subject to the provisions of this section.

(e)

Definition of applicable provisions of sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307

In this section, the term applicable provisions of sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307 means, as applicable,

; and

(3)

in subsection (e) (as so redesignated)—

(A)

by striking with;

(B)

by striking other appropriate; and

(C)

by striking set forth and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting implementing water quality criteria under section 303 necessary to support the specified designated use or uses of the receiving navigable water..