Records
Bill· HRH.R. 144 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2025
Tennessee Valley Authority Salary Transparency Act This bill expands reporting requirements for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). TVA is a government corporation that provides electricity in Tennessee and in portions of several surrounding states. It also provides flood control, navigation, and land management services for the Tennessee River system. The bill reinstates the requirement for TVA to file an annual financial statement and report with Congress in March. (The requirement was terminated by the Federal Reports Elimination and Sunset Act of 1995.) The bill also modifies the requirement that the report include the names, salaries, and duties of employees earning more than $1,500 a year. Under the bill, this information is only required for employees earning more than the maximum rate of basic pay for grade GS-13 of the General Schedule.
Bill· SS. 101 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 2025
Nuclear Waste Informed Consent Act This bill prohibits the Department of Energy (DOE) from using the Nuclear Waste Fund for certain activities related to radioactive waste disposal unless DOE has entered into a written agreement for a repository with (1) the governor of the state in which the proposed repository will be located, (2) affected local governments, (3) local governments contiguous to the affected local governments if spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste will be transported through them for disposal at the repository, and (4) affected Indian tribes.
Bill· HRH.R. 556 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025
Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2025 This bill bars the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the Forest Service from prohibiting or regulating the use of lead ammunition or tackle on federal land or water. The bill makes exceptions for specified existing regulations and where the FWS, the BLM, or the Forest Service determines that a decline in wildlife population at the specific unit of federal land or water is primarily caused by the use of lead in ammunition or tackle, based on the field data from such unit, and the state approves the regulations.
Bill· SS. 143 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025
Natural Gas Tax Repeal Act This bill eliminates a program administered by the Environmental Protection Agency that provides support for reducing methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. It also repeals a charge on methane emissions from facilities that contain petroleum and natural gas systems and emit 25,000 metric tons or more of greenhouse gases per year.
Bill· SS. 147 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 17 January 2025
Cleaner Air Spaces Act of 2025 This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency to provide grants to air pollution control agencies, including at least one tribal agency with jurisdiction over air quality, to implement cleaner air space programs (i.e., programs to provide clean air to the public during wildland fire smoke events). Generally, such programs must be located in areas at risk of exposure to wildland fire smoke and must help provide educational materials, clean air centers (i.e., one or more clean air rooms in a publicly accessible building), and air filtration units to certain households. Clean air rooms are rooms designed to keep levels of harmful air pollutants as low as possible during wildland fire smoke events. Under the bill, air pollution control agencies must partner with at least one community-based organization in implementing such programs.
Bill· SS. 171 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 21 January 2025
This bill removes the lesser prairie-chicken ( Tympanuchus pallidicinctus ), including each of its distinct population segments, from the threatened and endangered species lists that are published under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Further, the bill prohibits the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from designating such species as threatened or endangered, and thus, protecting such species under such act.
Bill· HRH.R. 573 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 21 January 2025
Studying NEPA’s Impact on Projects Act This bill directs the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to annually report on the impact of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) on projects that require NEPA review. CEQ must publish the report on its website and submit it to certain congressional committees. The report must include specified information about NEPA litigation, such as the number of cases, the status of cases, and their outcomes; the length and costs of the environmental impact statements and environmental assessments prepared; and the time it takes to complete environmental reviews under NEPA.
Bill· SS. 182 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2025
Northwest Energy Security Act This bill requires Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) operations to be consistent with the preferred alternative in a 2020 environmental impact statement (EIS) decision that focuses on the operations, maintenance, and configuration of dams in the system rather than wild fish restoration. The system includes dams in the Columbia and Snake rivers in Oregon, Washington, Montana, and Idaho. Specifically, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Bonneville Power Administration, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers must operate the FCRPS consistent with the Columbia River System Operations Environmental Impact Statement Record of Decision dated September 2020. Thus, Reclamation, the Bonneville Power Administration, and the Army Corps must follow the EIS rather than the 2023 Resilient Columbia Basin Initiative—and a supplemental EIS proposed in 2024—that focus on wild fish restoration in the Columbia Basin. The EIS decision may be amended if each agency determines that (1) changes are necessary for public safety or electrical grid reliability, or (2) certain requirements in the decision are no longer necessary. Further, the bill requires statutory authorization for any structural modification, action, study, or engineering plan that (1) restricts FCRPS hydroelectric dam generation; or (2) limits navigation on the Snake River in Washington, Oregon, or Idaho.
Bill· SS. 255 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 2025
Archie Cavanaugh Migratory Bird Treaty Amendment Act This bill states that nothing in the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (MBTA) prohibits possessing, selling, bartering, purchasing, shipping, or transporting any authentic Alaska Native handicraft, clothing, or art on the basis that it contains a nonedible migratory bird part, so long as the bird was not taken in a wasteful or illegal manner. (The MBTA implements four international treaties that the United States entered into with Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Russia. The MBTA prohibits the taking of protected migratory bird species without prior authorization.) The bill directs the Department of State to work with the Department of the Interior to enter into appropriate bilateral procedures with countries that are parties to the treaties under the MBTA to clarify the treatment of Alaska Native handicraft containing nonedible migratory bird parts from the species of migratory birds listed in those treaties. Further, Interior must modify any regulations implementing the MBTA to implement this bill.
Bill· HRH.R. 776 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2025
Nutria Eradication and Control Reauthorization Act of 2025 This bill reauthorizes through FY2030 the Nutria Eradication and Control Act of 2003, which allows the Department of the Interior to provide financial assistance to states for (1) eradicating or controlling nutria, and (2) restoring marshland damaged by nutria. Nutria are invasive, semi-aquatic rodents.
Bill· SS. 287 (119th)open
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2025
Marcella LeBeau Recognition Act This bill designates the federal building located at 225 South Pierre Street in Pierre, South Dakota, as the Marcella LeBeau Federal Building.
Bill· SS. 316 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 2025
Grizzly Bear State Management Act of 2025 This bill requires the Department of the Interior to remove the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem population of grizzly bears from the list of endangered and threatened wildlife.
Bill· SS. 347 (119th)open
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 2025
Brownfields Reauthorization Act of 2025 This bill extends through FY2030 and modifies the Brownfields Program under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA). The Brownfields Program is administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide grants and technical assistance to states, communities, tribes, and other entities to assess, clean up, and reuse contaminated properties. First, the bill expands eligibility for Brownfields Program resources to tax-exempt organizations defined under section 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code, which are organizations that are not organized for profit and do not provide net earnings to private shareholders or individuals (e.g., chambers of commerce). Additionally, the bill increases to $1 million the maximum grant amount that the EPA may provide for brownfield remediation per site, removes the 5% cap that a grant recipient may use for administrative costs, reduces the cost-sharing requirement for grant recipients from 20% to 10%, requires the EPA to waive cost-sharing requirements for grant recipients located in small communities or disadvantaged areas, authorizes the use of grants by a state or Indian tribe for the implementation of a response program, modifies the criteria used to rank grant applications by requiring the consideration of whether the applicant has a plan to engage a diverse set of local groups and organizations that represent the views of the local community directly affected by the proposed brownfield project, and requires the EPA to report on and update application ranking criteria and the approval process.
Bill· SS. 351 (119th)open
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 2025
Strategies To Eliminate Waste and Accelerate Recycling Development Act of 2025 or the STEWARD Act of 2025 This bill establishes requirements to expand recycling and composting efforts, including by creating (1) a pilot grant program, and (2) data collection and reporting requirements. The bill directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a pilot program that awards grants for improving recycling accessibility in communities, particularly in underserved communities. States, local governments, Indian tribes, and public-private partnerships may apply for those grants. The bill also directs the EPA to collect data related to composting and recycling infrastructure from states, local governments, and Indian tribes. Within three years and every four years thereafter, the EPA must prepare an inventory of certain recycling facilities in the United States. The EPA must also develop a metric for determining the proportion of recyclable materials in commercial and municipal waste streams that are being diverted from a circular market. The bill allows the EPA to develop (1) a standardized estimated rate of recyclable materials that have been brought to recycling or composting facilities, and (2) an estimated national recycling rate. The EPA may use the rates and information collected to provide states, local government, and Indian tribes data and technical assistance, such as assistance to reduce their overall waste and to increase their recycling and composting rates. The bill establishes a variety of reporting requirements for the EPA and directs the Government Accountability Office to publish a report on certain federal agency activities related to recycling.
Bill· SS. 341 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 2025
Smoke and Heat Ready Communities Act of 2025 This bill authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to make grants to air pollution control agencies to support the development and implementation of programs that support local communities in detecting, preparing for, communicating with the public about, or mitigating the environmental and public health aspects of wildfire smoke and extreme heat. The EPA must establish a formula to distribute the grants among air pollution control agencies. The bill requires the EPA to establish four Centers of Excellence for Wildfire Smoke and Extreme Heat at institutions of higher education to research (1) the effects of smoke emissions from wildland fires and extreme heat on public health, and (2) the means by which communities can better respond to impacts from such conditions. Additionally, the EPA must begin to carry out research to study the health effects of smoke emissions from wildland fires and extreme heat; develop and disseminate personal and community-based interventions to reduce exposure to, and health effects of, wildland fire smoke emissions and extreme heat; increase the quality of smoke and extreme heat monitoring and prediction tools and techniques; and develop implementation and communication strategies. The EPA must also establish a competitive grant program to assist certain entities (e.g., a state) in developing and implementing collaborative community plans for mitigating the impacts of smoke emissions from wildland fires and extreme heat.
Bill· SS. 378 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 2025
Expediting Hazard Mitigation Assistance Projects Act This bill authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to waive or reduce environmental or historic preservation requirements for property acquisition and structure demolition or relocation projects receiving assistance under certain hazard mitigation programs. Specifically, this authority applies to such projects receiving funding under FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities, or Flood Mitigation Assistance program. The bill authorizes FEMA to waive or reduce environmental and historic preservation requirements for these projects as FEMA determines appropriate, such as requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 or the National Historic Preservation Act. Before waiving or reducing such requirements, the bill requires FEMA to consult with state and local officials, for no more than 30 days, on the necessity of the waiver or reduction. Also, before making such a determination, FEMA must consider factors including details of the acquisition and demolition or relocation project, the implications for disaster recovery, and whether the waiver or reduction could cause serious environmental issues. FEMA must report annually to Congress for five years on topics including FEMA's use of its authority under the bill, the extent to which this authority expedited or enhanced the acquisition process under FEMA's programs, and related recommendations.
Bill· HRH.R. 845 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 2025
Pet and Livestock Protection Act of 2025 This bill directs the Department of the Interior to remove protections for the gray wolf under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA). Specifically, the bill requires Interior to reissue the final rule titled Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Removing the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) From the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and published on November 3, 2020. The rule removed the gray wolf in the lower 48 United States, except for the Mexican wolf ( C. l. baileyi ) subspecies, from the endangered and threatened species list. However, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California vacated the rule on February 10, 2022. As a result, the gray wolf reattained the protection status it had prior to the rule's promulgation. The bill also prohibits the reissuance of the rule from being subject to judicial review.
Bill· SS. 395 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 2025
Emergency Fuel Reduction Act of 2025 This bill categorically excludes from the environmental review requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) certain hazardous fuel reduction projects on federal land. A categorical exclusion applies to a class of actions that do not require an environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement under NEPA. The categorical exclusion established by the bill applies to a hazardous fuel reduction project that (1) involves the removal of trees that are dead, dying, or insect-infected or present a threat to public safety; (2) involves the removal of hazardous fuels threatening infrastructure; (3) is conducted on federal land with conditions that pose a risk to adjacent nonfederal land; or (4) treats 10,000 acres or less of federal land that is at particular risk for wildfire, contains threatened and endangered species habitat, or provides conservation benefits to certain species, such as a special concern species. This categorical exclusion does not apply to federal land (1) that is a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System, (2) on which the removal of vegetation is specifically prohibited by federal law, or (3) that is within a national monument as of the date of enactment of this bill.
Bill· SS. 386 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 2025
Bill· SJRESS.J.Res. 12 (119th)open
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 2025
This joint resolution nullifies the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule titled Waste Emissions Charge for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems: Procedures for Facilitating Compliance, Including Netting and Exemptions and published on November 18, 2024. The rule outlines compliance requirements under the Methane Emissions Reduction Program. Under the program, the EPA collects an annual charge on emissions of methane and other greenhouse gases from entities in the oil and gas sector if their emissions exceed specified waste emissions thresholds.
Bill· HRH.R. 1098 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 2025
This bill reauthorizes through FY2031 the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). By way of background, the program is an art- and science-based curriculum that teaches wetland and waterfowl conservation to students in kindergarten through high school. The program hosts a national art competition and the winning design is featured on the junior duck stamp sold by the FWS. The revenue generated from the sale of the stamp is used to support activities for students who participate in the program.
Resolution· SRESS.Res. 59 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 2025
Bill· SJRESS.J.Res. 14 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 2025
This joint resolution nullifies the Environmental Protection Agency rule titled Phasedown of Hydrofluorocarbons: Management of Certain Hydrofluorocarbons and Substitutes Under the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020 and published on October 11, 2024. The rule establishes an emission reduction and reclamation program for the management of hydrofluorocarbons, which are greenhouse gases. The rule also establishes alternative Resource Conservation and Recovery Act standards for certain ignitable spent refrigerants being recycled for reuse.
Bill· SS. 528 (119th)open
United States · United States Congress · 11 February 2025
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2025 or the GLRI Act of 2025 This bill reauthorizes through FY2031 the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which carries out programs and projects to protect and restore the Great Lakes.
Bill· SS. 514 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 11 February 2025
Methane Emissions Reduction Program Clarifications Act of 2025 or the MERP Clarifications Act of 2025 This bill modifies the Methane Emissions Reduction Program, including by exempting certain facilities from methane emission reporting requirements and fees. Under the program, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must (1) provide financial and technical assistance to measure and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and (2) collect a fee on methane emissions that exceed certain thresholds. The bill exempts certain small upstream facilities from the program's reporting requirements and fees. Specifically, the exemption applies to a facility that, as of August 16, 2022, (1) was emitting less than 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent of greenhouse gases per year, and (2) had 2,500 or fewer full-time employees. The bill also prohibits the EPA from imposing a fee on certain facilities during any period in which the facilities (1) comply with specified emission standards, and (2) are located in states that are complying with their state implementation plans. Further, the bill requires the EPA to disburse all incentive grants under the program and finalize revisions to certain emissions reporting regulations before it collects fees. The EPA must also propose a rule to establish an expedited process for certain facilities to appeal or dispute the amount of fees. Additionally, the EPA must publish specified information about the program, including a clear explanation of the reporting requirements and calculations necessary to understand them. Finally, the bill automatically terminates the program on December 31, 2034.
Bill· SS. 508 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 11 February 2025
Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of 2025 or the BEACH Act of 2025 This bill reauthorizes through FY2029 and expands an existing program of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that awards grants to states and local governments to (1) monitor the water quality of coastal recreational waters adjacent to beaches or similar points of access that are used by the public; and (2) notify the public, local governments, and the EPA when the water is not safe for recreational activities. Specifically, the bill expands the program to allow the EPA to award grants for identifying sources of contamination (i.e., pathogens) for coastal recreation waters. It also allows grants to be used for monitoring and notification of contamination in (1) shallow waters upstream from recreational waters, and (2) recreational waters on beaches.
Bill· SS. 537 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 2025
Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2025 This bill bars the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the Forest Service from prohibiting or regulating the use of lead ammunition or tackle on federal land or water. The bill makes exceptions for specified existing regulations and where the FWS, the BLM, or the Forest Service determines that a decline in wildlife population at the specific unit of federal land or water is primarily caused by the use of lead in ammunition or tackle, based on the field data from such unit, and the state approves the regulations.
Bill· HRH.R. 1346 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 2025
Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025 This bill amends the Clean Air Act to address the limitations on Reid Vapor Pressure (a measure of gasoline's volatility) that are placed on gasoline during the summer ozone season. Specifically, the bill applies the waiver for Reid Vapor Pressure requirements that is applicable to gasoline blended with 10% ethanol (E10) to gasoline blended with up to 15% ethanol (E15). This change allows gasoline that is blended with 10% to 15% ethanol to be sold year-round. Currently, states may be excluded from the waiver for Reid Vapor Pressure requirements by submitting documentation supporting that the waiver would increase air pollution. The bill nullifies existing state exclusions, but states may submit documentation after enactment of the bill to be excluded going forward. The bill also modifies the Renewable Fuel Standard Program, which requires transportation fuel sold or introduced into commerce in the United States to contain minimum volumes of renewable fuel. Under the existing program, obligated parties, such as small refineries, must satisfy the volume obligations by either blending renewable fuels into their gasoline or diesel fuel products or by acquiring credits that represent the required renewable fuel volume. The bill directs the Environmental Protection Agency to return compliance credits to small refineries under certain circumstances.
Bill· SS. 593 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 2025
Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025 This bill amends the Clean Air Act to address the limitations on Reid Vapor Pressure (a measure of gasoline's volatility) that are placed on gasoline during the summer ozone season. Specifically, the bill applies the waiver for Reid Vapor Pressure requirements that is applicable to gasoline blended with 10% ethanol (E10) to gasoline blended with up to 15% ethanol (E15). This change allows gasoline that is blended with 10% to 15% ethanol to be sold year-round. Currently, states may be excluded from the waiver for Reid Vapor Pressure requirements by submitting documentation supporting that the waiver would increase air pollution. The bill nullifies existing state exclusions, but states may submit documentation after enactment of the bill to be excluded going forward. The bill also modifies the Renewable Fuel Standard Program, which requires transportation fuel sold or introduced into commerce in the United States to contain minimum volumes of renewable fuel. Under the existing program, obligated parties, such as small refineries, must satisfy the volume obligations by either blending renewable fuels into their gasoline or diesel fuel products or by acquiring credits that represent the required renewable fuel volume. The bill directs the Environmental Protection Agency to return compliance credits to small refineries under certain circumstances.
Bill· SS. 570 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 2025
Bill· SJRESS.J.Res. 19 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 2025
This joint resolution nullifies the Environmental Protection Agency rule titled Trichloroethylene (TCE); Regulation Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) (89 Fed. Reg. 102568) and published on December 17, 2024. Among other elements, the rule prohibits the manufacturing, import, processing, and distribution in commerce of trichloroethylene (TCE) for all uses (including consumer uses), and prohibits the industrial and commercial use of TCE.
Bill· HRH.R. 1373 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 14 February 2025
Tennessee Valley Authority Transparency Act of 2025 This bill revises the duties of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Board of Directors to include holding public meetings at least four times each year. The board must provide public notice at least six days before such a meeting, unless the meeting is designated as an emergency. TVA, a federally owned electric utility corporation, provides low-cost electricity in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. It also provides flood control, navigation, and land management for the Tennessee River system.
Bill· SS. 623 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 18 February 2025
Bill· SS. 651 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 20 February 2025
Unplug the Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Programs Act This bill repeals grant programs that provide funding for electric vehicle charging infrastructure and alternative fueling infrastructure. Specifically, the bill repeals the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program under which the Department of Transportation provides grants for acquiring and installing publicly accessible electric vehicle charging infrastructure, hydrogen fueling infrastructure, propane fueling infrastructure, or natural gas fueling infrastructure that is directly related to the charging or fueling of a vehicle. It also repeals the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program under which the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides grants for deploying electric vehicle charging infrastructure and establishing a network to facilitate data collection, access, and reliability. In addition, the bill rescinds unobligated funds that were provided to the FHWA for the program and prohibits funds from being used to carry out the program.
Bill· SJRESS.J.Res. 24 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 2025
This joint resolution nullifies the Environmental Protection Agency rule titled National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Rubber Tire Manufacturing (89 Fed. Reg. 94886) and published on November 29, 2024. The rule addresses the decision in Louisiana Environmental Action Network v. EPA (D.C. Cir. 2020) by implementing emissions standards for the rubber processing subcategory of the rubber tire manufacturing industry to ensure all emissions of hazardous air pollutants from sources in the source category are regulated.
Bill· HRH.R. 1676 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2025
Make SWAPs Efficient Act of 2025 or the Make State Wildlife Action Plans Efficient Act of 2025 This bill modifies the State Wildlife Grant Program (SWGP) to establish a deadline for the Department of the Interior to approve state wildlife conservation and restoration programs. Under the SWGP, Interior provides funding to state wildlife agencies to implement their comprehensive plans (commonly known as state wildlife action plans or SWAPs) for state wildlife conservation and restoration programs. The bill directs Interior to approve a state wildlife conservation and restoration program within 180 days after the date on which the state submitted its SWAP if Interior finds that the SWAP complies with the requirements of the SWGP. If Interior misses the deadline, the bill requires (1) the SWAP to be automatically approved, and (2) Interior to set aside amounts under the Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Account for the state.
Bill· SS. 811 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2025
Bill· SS. 795 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2025
Farmers Freedom Act of 2025 This bill excludes certain prior converted cropland from permit requirements under the Clean Water Act, including Section 404 permits for discharges of dredged materials into waters of the United States (WOTUS). The exclusion applies to areas that were converted to cropland prior to December 23, 1985. However, the bill does not exclude an area that has reverted to wetlands and has not been used for agricultural purposes in five years. In recent years, there has not been regulatory consistency about which cropland, such as cropland that has reverted to wetlands, is protected under the scope of the act as WOTUS. In 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued the Navigable Waters Protection Rule that, among other provisions, defined prior converted cropland in order to specify which cropland is excluded from the scope of the act. However, the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona vacated the rule in Pascua Yaqui Tribe v. EPA . In 2023, the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers issued another rule that excluded prior converted cropland from the scope of the act, but they defined the exclusion more narrowly than the exclusion in the 2020 rule. Similar to the 2020 rule, this bill broadens the exclusion. The bill determines the scope of the exclusion by defining the term prior converted cropland in statute .
Bill· SS. 781 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2025
Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Reauthorization Act of 2025 This bill reauthorizes the Environmental Protection Agency's Long Island Sound programs through FY2029. The programs, which include a stewardship grant program, focus on conserving and restoring the estuary off the coast of New York and Connecticut.
Bill· SJRESS.J.Res. 29 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 2025
This joint resolution nullifies the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule titled Air Plan Approval; Ohio; Withdrawal of Technical Amendment (90 Fed. Reg. 6811) and published on January 21, 2025. Among other elements, the rule reversed a final rule from November 2020 that removed the Air Nuisance Rule (ANR) from the Ohio State Implementation Plan (SIP). The EPA determined its original action to remove the ANR was in error, and this rule reinstates the ANR. (Under the Clean Air Act, states must submit SIPs to comply with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. This ANR was included in Ohio’s SIP.)