Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote on a motion to invoke cloture on a bill that amends the definition of "waters of the United States."

Highlights:

• Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to define “waters of the United States” as the follows (Sec. 4):
• Existing law:
• Waters which are currently used, were used in the past, or may be susceptible to use in interstate or foreign commerce;
• Waters that are interstate waters, including interstate wetlands;
• Waters that are territorial seas;
• Waters that contribute flow to a water identified above;
• Waters that are determined to have “significant effects” on the chemical, physical, or biological integrity of a water identified above; and
• Waters that are adjacent to a water identified above;
• New law:
• Waters that are traditional navigable and interstate waters;
• Waters that are streams identified on a map created using the United States Geological Survey National Hydrology Dataset Plus at the 1:100,000 scale;
• Waters that are streams that contribute flow in a normal year to a traditional navigable water of sufficient volume, duration, and frequency that pollutants in that reach would degrade the water quality of the traditional navigable water; and
• Waters that are wetlands adjacent to a water identified above.

• Specifies that “waters of the United States” does not include the following bodies of water (Sec. 4):
• Waters that are located below the surface of the land;
• Waters that are not located within a body of water;
• Waters that are isolated ponds, whether natural or manmade;
• Waters that are within a system constructed for the purpose of collecting or treating storm water, floodwater, wastewater, or municipal water;
• Waters that are streams that do not contribute to flow in a normal year to a traditional navigable water of sufficient volume, duration, and frequency; and
• Waters that are prior-converted cropland.

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text