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A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to clarify Federal responsibility for stormwater pollution.

Became Public Law No: 111-378.

Official summary

Version 49 · Public Law · Jan 4, 2011

Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to provide that reasonable service charges applicable to federal entities for water pollution include any reasonable nondiscriminatory fee, charge, or assessment that is: (1) based on some fair approximation of the proportionate contribution of the property or facility to stormwater pollution; and (2) used to pay or reimburse the costs associated with any stormwater management program (whether associated with a separate storm sewer system or a system that manages a combination of stormwater and sanitary waste), including the full range of costs attributable to collecting stormwater, reducing pollutants in stormwater, and reducing the volume and rate of stormwater discharge, regardless of whether that charge is denominated a tax.

Limits payments of such charges so that: (1) they shall not be made using funds from any permanent authorization account in the Treasury; and (2) federal entities shall not be obligated to pay or reimburse any such charge, except to the extent and in an amount provided in advance by any appropriations Act to pay or reimburse the charge.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
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Who introduced it

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

Committees

  • Environment and Public Works Committee
3 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Became Public Law No: 111-378.

  2. Became Public Law No: 111-378.

  3. Signed by President.

  4. Signed by President.

  5. Presented to President.

  6. Presented to President.

  7. Cleared for White House.

  8. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  9. On passage Passed without objection. (text: CR H8978)

  10. Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.(text: CR H8978)

  11. Mr. Perriello asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table and consider.

  12. Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR H8978-8980)

  13. Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  14. Held at the desk.

  15. Received in the House.

  16. Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

  17. Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

  18. Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S10933)

  19. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 715.

  20. Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Boxer without amendment. Without written report.

  21. Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Boxer without amendment. Without written report.

  22. Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

  23. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4856)

  24. Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4855-4856)

  25. Introduced in Senate

Bill text & related measures

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Related bills identified by Congress.gov

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

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