PERMIT Act

This bill narrows federal water rules and speeds up permits for building and other projects. It changes what counts as “navigable waters” under the Clean Water Act by excluding some features that flow only after rain, certain farmed lands, waste treatment systems, and groundwater, so fewer situations would need a federal water permit. It also makes permits last longer: discharge permits go from five to ten years, and general permits can run ten years, with terms that carry over if an agency delays replacing an expired permit . EPA’s power to block a wetlands fill permit is limited to the window after an application is complete and before the permit is issued.

There are specific carve-outs. Storm runoff from farm fields after rain, including subsurface drainage, would not need a permit. Approved pesticide use over water would not need a permit unless misused, and fire crews can drop approved retardants from aircraft without a water permit . The spill‑prevention rule changes by raising certain storage‑size thresholds measured in gallons, which affects who must prepare plans. The bill sets clearer rules for state water‑quality certifications tied to discharges and says facilities are treated as in compliance when they follow the limits in their permits for the pollutants covered . It also speeds reviews and court cases: people have 60 days to challenge permit decisions, courts generally send issues back without canceling permits unless there’s an imminent danger, agencies get deadlines to fix problems, and the Army Corps must quickly clear any permit and wetlands‑review backlog after enactment .

• Who is affected

  • Farmers and ranchers: no federal permits for field runoff after rainfall; approved pesticide uses don’t need a water permit unless misused; aerial fire retardant drops allowed .
  • Builders, utilities, and pipeline companies: longer permits and streamlined nationwide permits for linear projects with set acreage limits (for example, under 3 acres for many linear projects and 0.5 acres for certain pipeline work) .
  • Sites with above‑ground oil storage: higher gallon thresholds under spill‑prevention rules.
  • State environmental agencies: clearer certification rules and timelines; encouraged to join a federal fast‑track process for major projects; EPA must review rules within 180 days to help more states run their own wetlands permit programs .

• What changes

  • Narrower federal water coverage in some places and fewer permits in those situations.
  • Permit terms extended to ten years; some permit terms continue during transitions .
  • Streamlined nationwide permits for linear projects and pipelines, with set thresholds.
  • Shorter court deadlines and limited remedies to avoid permit shutdowns unless there is imminent danger .

• When

  • Lawsuits must be filed within 60 days of decisions; if a court sends a matter back, agencies generally have up to 180 days to act .
  • The Army Corps must move within 60 days after enactment to clear backlogs of permit applications and wetlands decisions.