S. 4681Senate116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

A bill to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to promulgate certain limitations with respect to pre-production plastic pellet pollution, and for other purposes.

Sponsored by Tom UdallSen. Tom Udall (D-NM)
Introduced September 24, 2020

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 3:12 PM UTC

The Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act would force the EPA to quickly (within 60 days) issue a rule that bans the release of pre‑production plastic pellets and other raw plastic material into water, storm drains, or runoff. The rule would apply to any facility that makes, uses, packages, transports, or otherwise handles these pellets, including polymer production plants and related point sources. The ban would be built into all EPA‑issued wastewater and stormwater permits and performance standards.

Key Provisions

  • EPA must publish a final rule within 60 days of the law’s enactment that prohibits discharge of plastic pellets or other pre‑production plastic material from facilities covered by CFR parts 414 or 463.
  • The prohibition also covers any point source that makes, uses, packages, or transports plastic pellets, preventing releases into wastewater, stormwater, or runoff.
  • All existing and future EPA wastewater, stormwater, and other permits, as well as state‑delegated permits, must incorporate these new discharge limits.
  • Performance standards under the Clean Water Act (section 312(p)) must be updated to reflect the pellet discharge prohibitions for the affected point sources.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

September 24, 2020

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

September 24, 2020

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

September 24, 2020

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued September 24, 2020

II

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 4681

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

September 24, 2020

Mr. Udall introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works

A BILL

To require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to promulgate certain limitations with respect to pre-production plastic pellet pollution, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited the Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act.

2.

Effluent limitations for wastewater, spills, and runoff from plastic polymer production facilities, plastic molding and forming facilities, and other point sources associated with the transport and packaging of plastic pellets or other pre-production plastic materials

Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (referred to in this section as the Administrator) shall promulgate a final rule to ensure that—

(1)

the discharge of plastic pellets or other pre-production plastic materials (including discharge into wastewater and other runoff) from facilities regulated under part 414 or 463 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act), is prohibited;

(2)

the discharge of plastic pellets or other pre-production plastic materials (including discharge into wastewater and other runoff) from a point source (as defined in section 502 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1362)) that makes, uses, packages, or transports those plastic pellets and other pre-production plastic materials is prohibited; and

(3)

the requirements under paragraphs (1) and (2) are reflected in—

(A)

all wastewater, stormwater, and other permits issued by the Administrator and State-delegated programs under section 402 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1342) to facilities and other point sources (as defined in section 502 of that Act (33 U.S.C. 1362)) that make, use, package, or transport plastic pellets or other pre-production plastic materials, as determined by the Administrator, in addition to other applicable limits and standards; and

(B)

all standards of performance promulgated under section 312(p) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1322(p)) that are applicable to point sources (as defined in section 502 of that Act (33 U.S.C. 1362)) that make, use, package, or transport plastic pellets or other pre-production plastic materials, as determined by the Administrator.