Reducing Permitting Uncertainty Act

This proposal changes how the federal government can block certain water permits. It limits when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can stop an area from being used to dump dirt or rock during projects like building, mining, or dredging. Under the bill, the EPA can only step in after a complete permit application is filed and before the permit is issued. It would not allow the EPA to block a site long before an application is filed or to undo a permit after it’s granted. This aims to give businesses and communities more certainty during the permitting process.

Key points:

• Who is affected: People and companies that need permits to place dredged or fill material in waters and wetlands; federal agencies that review these permits.
• What changes: The EPA’s power to prohibit or restrict a disposal site is limited to the window between a complete application being submitted and the permit decision being made.
• When: These rules would apply to permit applications submitted after the law takes effect.