Sponsors
Narrows what EPA can consider when setting baseline, technology-based water pollution limits. It says EPA should weigh costs and benefits using only technologies that are commercially available in the United States, rather than any technology used elsewhere or still in pilot stages. This change applies to the “best practicable” limits for existing sources under the Clean Water Act. It does not add funding, new programs, or deadlines, and it does not change stricter standards that may still apply or water‑quality based limits needed to meet state water quality standards.
Amend Section 304(b)(1)(B) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act by striking the words "technology in relation to" and inserting the phrase "technology that is commercially available in the United States in relation to".
Primary effects fall on EPA’s rulewriters and on industrial facilities regulated by technology-based effluent guidelines. EPA would base its cost–benefit balancing for baseline limits only on technologies available on the U.S. market, which may narrow the set of control methods considered and could reduce the likelihood of basing standards on cutting-edge foreign or pilot technologies. Industrial NPDES permit holders could see clearer expectations and possibly lower near-term compliance costs if emerging technologies are excluded until they are commercially available domestically. States with delegated Clean Water Act permitting will reflect this approach in future rulemakings and permits tied to these baseline limits. Environmental groups may view the change as potentially slowing pollution-control innovation, while communities downstream would continue to rely on water-quality based limits and other safeguards for necessary protection.
Last progress June 11, 2025 (8 months ago)
Introduced on June 11, 2025 by Mike Collins
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.