Press Releases

U.S. Congressman Garret Graves (Louisiana) released the following statement in response to the passage of H.R. 7023 – the Creating Confidence in Clean Water Permitting Act in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The legislation, offered by U.S. Congressman David Rouzer (North Carolina), builds upon earlier permitting reform modernizations signed into law and streamlines the permitting process under the Clean Water Act (CWA):

“This package is another positive step toward modernizing permitting so that critical infrastructure projects may be carried out more efficiently,” said Graves. “We have consistently fought to modernize outdated permitting laws so that they are no longer obstacles to protecting the people and resources they should be serving. We commend Rep. Rouzer for his work on this legislation that goes hand-in-hand with our legislative efforts—the first changes to the National Environmental Policy Act in forty years—to improve efficiency and expedite project review.”

Graves offered the following amendments to H.R. 7023, which were accepted and included in the package:

• To ensure certainty in National Pollution Discharge Elimination System general permits by requiring notice if a permit will not be renewed and providing a continuance for those permits when bureaucrats are dragging their feet;
• To specify standing requirements for lawsuits over 404 permits so that a plaintiff would have had to actually participate in the public comment process and by doing so have already raised the specific issue before they can bring a lawsuit; and
• To require the EPA to produce implementation guidance for their 2023 Waters of the United States rule to conform with the Supreme Court’s decision in Sackett v. EPA.

Background:

• In 2018, Graves first introduced the Building U.S. Infrastructure through Limited Delays & Efficient Reviews (BUILDER) Act, which modernizes the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to expedite infrastructure project review to improve efficiency, reduce project costs, spur economic recovery, and rebuild America.
• BUILDER was included as part of H.R. 1 – the Lower Energy Costs Act, the House’s marquee energy legislation that passed on March 30, 2023.
• Sections of BUILDER were also included in H.R. 3746 – the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which was signed into law by President Biden on June 3, 2023.