FRESHER Act of 2015

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jun 11, 2015

Focused Reduction of Effluence and Stormwater runoff through Hydrofracking Environmental Regulation Act of 2015 or the FRESHER Act of 2015

This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to allow the Environmental Protection Agency to require a permit under the national pollutant discharge elimination system for discharges of stormwater runoff from: (1) mining operations; (2) oil and gas operations; or (3) transmission facilities for collecting and conveying precipitation runoff that are not contaminated by contact with any overburden, raw material, intermediate products, finished product, byproduct, or waste products located on the site of the operations.

The Department of the Interior must study stormwater runoff associated with oil or gas operations, including an analysis of: (1) measurable contamination, (2) groundwater resources, and (3) the susceptibility of aquifers to contamination from stormwater runoff associated with the operations.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD] · D–MD

Committees

Environment and Public Works Committee

5 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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Jun 11, 2015
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Jun 11, 2015
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Jun 11, 2015 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 1460 · FRESHER Act of 2015

Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.1554 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.1554, 114th Congress: FRESHER Act of 2015

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1554

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2015-06-11.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s1554/BILLS-114s1554is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:12:22Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.1554 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.1554 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss S.1554, 114th Congress: FRESHER Act of 2015

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1554

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2015-06-11.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s1554/BILLS-114s1554is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:12:22Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1554 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.1554 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Discuss S.1554, 114th Congress: FRESHER Act of 2015

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1554

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2015-06-11.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s1554/BILLS-114s1554is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:12:22Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1554 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.1554 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1554, 114th Congress: FRESHER Act of 2015

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1554

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2015-06-11.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s1554/BILLS-114s1554is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:12:22Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1554 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.