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Title: Federal Water Quality Protection Act
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.
More Info About this Vote
NOTE: INVOKING CLOTURE REQUIRES A 3/5 MAJORITY OF THE SENATE. IT IS NOT A VOTE ON THE PASSAGE OF THE PIECE OF LEGISLATION, BUT LIMITS FURTHER DEBATE TO 30 HOURS. CLOTURE IS TYPICALLY USED TO END A FILIBUSTER. A FAILED CLOTURE VOTE OFTEN PREVENTS THE LEGISLATION FROM EVER COMING TO A VOTE.