H.R. 892 · 116th Congress
To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to limit attorney fees and penalties in citizen suits, and…
Full title
To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to limit attorney fees and penalties in citizen suits, and for other purposes.
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Never voted on. It didn't reach a floor vote before the 116th Congress ended, so it expired. A bill has to be introduced again to be considered in a new Congress.
R
HunterSponsor1 cosponsor · 1 R
0 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
This bill revises requirements for citizen enforcement suits brought under the Clean Water Act.
What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in House · Jan 30, 2019
This bill revises requirements for citizen enforcement suits brought under the Clean Water Act.
Specifically, the bill limits the amount that may be awarded for the costs of litigation in citizen suits. An award of litigation costs may not exceed (1) an amount that is proportional to the number of successful claims included in the complaint, or (2) the amount of monetary penalties.
The award of litigation costs must be based on the prevailing rates in the local market area where the violation occurred for the kind and quality of the services furnished.
Citizen suits may not be commenced if the Environmental Protection Agency or a state has commenced and is diligently prosecuting a civil or criminal action through the issuance of a compliance order.
The bill provides for certain affirmative defenses for a person who may be liable for the unlawful discharge of a pollutant.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to limit attorney fees and penalties in citizen suits, and for other purposes.
Latest action (Feb 7, 2019): Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
Policy area: Environmental Protection · Origin: House · Introduced: Jan 30, 2019
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
No recorded floor vote found.