US Congress House Bill 892 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: Introduced on January 30 2019 - 25% progression, died in committee
Action: 2019-02-07 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
Pending: House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]

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.

To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to limit attorney fees and penalties in citizen suits, and for other purposes.

Rep. Duncan Hunter [R-CA]

Rep. Tom McClintock [R-CA]

Date	Chamber	Action
2019-02-07	House	Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
2019-01-30	House	Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
2019-01-30	House	Introduced in House

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/892/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr892/BILLS-116hr892ih.pdf