S.1985 / 103rd Congress

Publicly Owned Treatment Works Biological Monitoring Use Act

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

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Mar 25, 1994

Publicly Owned Treatment Works Biological Monitoring Use Act - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to require permits for discharges from publicly owned treatment works to contain terms for biological monitoring or whole effluent toxicity tests if the permitting authority determines that such discharges cause, have the potential to cause, or contribute to an in-stream excursion above a narrative or numeric criterion for whole effluent toxicity. Outlines the process for such tests. Provides that if the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency determines that it is necessary to include biological monitoring, testing, or assessment methods or whole effluent toxicity tests as a permit condition for publicly owned treatment works, the failure of such tests shall not result in a finding of violation.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Brown, Hank [R-CO] · R–CO

Committees

Environment and Public Works Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Sen. Campbell, Ben Nighthorse [D-CO]

Legislative record

Actions

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Mar 25, 1994
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Mar 25, 1994
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 · Mar 25, 1994 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

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

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Objective

Analyze S.1985 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.1985, 103rd Congress: Publicly Owned Treatment Works Biological Monitoring Use Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/senate-bill/1985

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1994-03-25.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/s1985/BILLS-103s1985is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:14:00Z. 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.1985 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.1985 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.1985, 103rd Congress: Publicly Owned Treatment Works Biological Monitoring Use Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/senate-bill/1985

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1994-03-25.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/s1985/BILLS-103s1985is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:14:00Z. 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.1985 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.1985 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.1985, 103rd Congress: Publicly Owned Treatment Works Biological Monitoring Use Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/senate-bill/1985

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1994-03-25.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/s1985/BILLS-103s1985is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:14:00Z. 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.1985 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.1985 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.

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Discuss S.1985, 103rd Congress: Publicly Owned Treatment Works Biological Monitoring Use Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/senate-bill/1985

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1994-03-25.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/s1985/BILLS-103s1985is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:14:00Z. 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.1985 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.