I 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1480 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 12, 2011 Mr. Guinta introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To delay enforcement and establishment of certain water quality standards within the Great Bay Estuary, and for other purposes.

1.

Great Bay Estuary

(a)

Delay of enforcement and establishment

During the 5-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency may not— (1)require a covered treatment works to commence construction on any upgrade of a facility for the purpose of enforcing water quality standards or effluent limitations with regard to nitrogen under section 402 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1342); or (2)establish any water quality standard or effluent limitation with regard to nitrogen in the Great Bay Estuary under title III of such Act (33 U.S.C. 1311 et seq.). (b)

Study required

(1)

In general

Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall conduct, and make available to the public the results of, a peer-reviewed study regarding eelgrass levels, and the causes of any loss of eelgrass habitat, in the Great Bay Estuary. (2)

Public participation

The Administrator shall allow for public participation in the development of the study conducted under this subsection. (c)

Definitions

In this section: (1)

Covered treatment works

The term covered treatment works means a publicly owned treatment works, as that term is defined in section 212 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1292), that contributes nitrogen loadings to the Great Bay Estuary. (2)

Great Bay Estuary

The term Great Bay Estuary means the estuarine zone that extends from the mouth of Portsmouth Harbor, in the vicinity of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to the head-of-tide for the 8 rivers (including the tributaries of those rivers) that flow into Great Bay, Little Bay, and the Piscataqua River. (3)

Estuarine zone

The term estuarine zone has the meaning given that term in section 320(k) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1330(k)).