I 112th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 3856 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 31, 2012 Mr. Southerland (for himself, Mr. Ross of Florida, Mr. Rivera, Mr. West, Mrs. Adams, Mr. Miller of Florida, Mr. Rooney, Mr. Buchanan, and Mr. Webster) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To limit the authority of the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency with respect to certain numeric nutrient criteria, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the State Waters Partnership Act of 2012.

2.

Findings

Congress finds the following: (1)The Environmental Protection Agency has repeatedly described the State of Florida as having some of the most progressive nutrient management strategies in the Nation. (2)The Environmental Protection Agency agrees with Florida that the Federal Water Pollution Control Act envisions that States have the primary role in establishing and implementing water quality standards for their waters. (3)The Environmental Protection Agency has repeatedly referenced its desire to work cooperatively with States in the development and implementation of numeric nutrient criteria. (4)The Environmental Protection Agency has stated that upon approval of Florida’s numeric nutrient criteria, the Administrator will promptly initiate rulemaking to repeal federally promulgated numeric nutrient criteria. (5)The Florida Environmental Regulation Commission, on December 8, 2011, adopted numeric nutrient criteria for Florida’s fresh water bodies and estuary systems, which included a firm regulatory schedule for adoption of additional marine criteria. (6)The Environmental Protection Agency has stated that if Florida adopts, and the Administrator approves, numeric nutrient criteria for any waters for which the Environmental Protection Agency has not yet proposed or promulgated Federal numeric nutrient criteria, the Environmental Protection Agency will not propose or promulgate corresponding Federal numeric nutrient criteria.

3.

Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that the Administrator should take into account the effect of numeric nutrient criteria on the economy, job creation, consumers, municipalities, agriculture, small business, and other affected sectors, using State data, information, and independent studies to ensure to accountability, and that the Administrator should not promulgate or enforce any numeric nutrient criteria that would result in a negative economic impact of 15 percent or higher on any such sector.

4.

Numeric nutrient criteria

The Administrator may not propose, promulgate, or enforce any numeric nutrient criteria for any streams, lakes, springs, canals, estuaries, or marine waters of the State of Florida, until the Administrator makes a final determination in accordance with section 303(c) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1313(c)) regarding the Florida amended rule. If the Administrator determines under such section that the Florida amended rule meets the requirements of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, then the Administrator may not enforce, and shall withdraw, section 131.43 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, in its entirety and may not propose or promulgate any numeric nutrient criteria for any streams, lakes, springs, canals, estuaries, or marine waters of the State of Florida based on the January 14, 2009, determination.

5.

Definitions

In this Act: (1)

Administrator

The term Administrator means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. (2)

Florida amended rule

The term Florida amended rule means chapters 62–302 and 62–303 of the Florida Administrative Code, as approved for adoption by the Florida Environmental Regulation Commission on December 8, 2011, and submitted on December 9, 2011, to the Florida Legislature for ratification. (3)

January 14, 2009, determination

The term January 14, 2009, determination means the determination issued by the Environmental Protection Agency on January 14, 2009, under section 303(c)(4)(B) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, regarding numeric nutrient criteria for the State of Florida. (4)

Numeric nutrient criteria

The term numeric nutrient criteria means specific numerical criteria for any species of nitrogen or phosphorus developed to meet the water quality requirements of section 303 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1313).