Summary:
Refinery Regulatory Reduction Act of 2013 - Delays, until a report is submitted by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) pursuant to this Act and enactment of a law setting such date, the effective date of a final rule: (1) requiring a reduction in sulfur content of gasoline, (2) establishing or revising a standard of performance for new stationary sources under the Clean Air Act applicable to the emission of any air pollutant from a petroleum refinery, or (3) concerning the emission of a greenhouse gas from a petroleum refinery.

Requires the report submitted upon finalizing any such rule to include: (1) estimates of impacts on competitiveness, prices, and employment; (2) estimates of cumulative costs and benefits; and (3) an assessment of the cumulative impacts on consumers and economic sectors, including oil refinery production.

refinery regulatory reduction act delays report submitted administrator environmental_protection_agency epa pursuant act enactment law setting date effective date final rule requiring reduction sulfur content gasoline establishing revising standard performance new stationary sources clean_air act applicable emission air pollutant petroleum refinery concerning emission greenhouse gas petroleum refinery requires report submitted finalizing rule include estimates impacts competitiveness prices employment estimates cumulative costs benefits assessment cumulative impacts consumers economic sectors including oil refinery production


Summary:
Stop the EPA Act of 2014 - Amends the Congressional Review Act to require congressional approval of major rules issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (Currently, rules go into effect unless Congress disapproves of the rule.) Nullifies EPA's existing major rules, unless the EPA submits them for congressional review.

Lowers the annual economic impact from $100 million to $50 million for a rule is deemed to be a major rule. Expands the criteria for an EPA regulation to be deemed a major rule to include that the regulation will have a significant impact on a substantial number of agriculture entities or it will implement a carbon tax.

Expands the EPA's reports to Congress and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to include: a classification of each rule as a major or nonmajor rule with an explanation of the economic effects of the rule, related regulatory actions taken by EPA or another agency, and any jobs added or lost.

Allows Congress to consider approval of a major rule only once in a Congress. Gives Congress 70 session days or legislative days to approve a rule.

Requires the GAO to estimate the economic cost imposed by all of EPA's rules.

stop epa act amends congressional review act require congressional approval major rules issued environmental_protection_agency epa currently rules effect congress disapproves rule nullifies epa existing major rules epa submits congressional review lowers annual economic impact million million rule deemed major rule expands criteria epa regulation deemed major rule include regulation significant impact substantial number agriculture entities implement carbon tax expands epa reports congress government_accountability_office gao include classification rule major nonmajor rule explanation economic effects rule related regulatory actions taken epa agency jobs added lost allows congress consider approval major rule congress gives congress session days legislative days approve rule requires gao estimate economic cost imposed epa rules


Summary:
Consolidate Heavy-handed and Outdated Programs Act of 2014 - Consolidates the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish the Department of Energy and the Environment (DEE), with the primary mission of ensuring U.S. security and prosperity by: (1) protecting human health; (2) safeguarding the natural environment; and (3) addressing U.S. energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions. Transfers to the DEE Secretary all of the functions of the EPA Administrator and the Secretary of Energy.

Establishes within the Department: (1) an Energy and Environmental Information Administration, (2) an Office of Science, (3) an Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence, (4) an Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs, and (5) the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as an independent regulatory commission. Transfers to the Commission specified functions of the Federal Power Commission (FPC). Preserves the Southeastern Power Administration, the Southwestern Power Administration, and the Bonneville Power Administration as distinct organizational entities within DEE, each headed by an Administrator.

Requires the DEE Secretary to establish policy for the National Nuclear Security Administration and assess annually the vulnerability of Department facilities to a terrorist attack.

Requires the President to submit a proposed National Energy Policy Plan to Congress by April 1, 2015, and biennially thereafter.

consolidate heavy outdated programs act consolidates department_of_energy doe environmental_protection_agency epa establish department_of_energy environment primary mission ensuring security prosperity protecting human health safeguarding natural environment addressing energy environmental nuclear challenges science_and_technology solutions transfers secretary functions epa administrator secretary energy establishes department energy environmental information administration office_of_science office intelligence counterintelligence office indian energy policy programs federal_energy_regulatory_commission independent regulatory commission transfers commission specified functions federal power commission preserves southeastern_power_administration southwestern_power_administration bonneville_power_administration distinct organizational entities headed administrator requires secretary establish policy national_nuclear_security_administration assess annually vulnerability department facilities terrorist attack requires president submit proposed national energy policy plan congress april biennially


Summary: Preventing the EPA from Garnishing Wages Act of 2014 - Eliminates the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to garnish wages for a debt owed under programs it administers.

preventing epa wages act eliminates authority environmental_protection_agency epa wages debt owed programs administers


Summary:
Air and Health Quality Empowerment Zone Designation Act of 2013 - Allows the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to designate an area as an air and health quality empowerment zone if the air pollution control district or other local governmental entity (area entity) authorized to regulate air quality for the area nominates the area for the designation and the area meets the following criteria:

 it has been designated as being in extreme nonattainment of the national ambient air quality standard for ozone and in nonattainment of the national ambient air quality standard for PM2.5 (particulate matter diameter); it had nitrogen oxide emissions from farm equipment, emissions of volatile organic compounds from farming, or nitrogen oxide emissions from sources governed primarily through international law in excess of specified amounts; it meets or exceeds the national average per capita incidence of asthma; it experiences unemployment rates higher than the national average; and the area entity will provide matching contributions of federal funds toward the activities to be carried out under the area's strategic plan to address air quality challenges, achieve attainment of air quality standards, and improve the health of the population in the area. Makes the effective period of area designation the shorter of 10 years or the period ending with revocation by the EPA.

Authorizes grants for carrying out an area's strategic plan.

air health quality empowerment zone designation act allows environmental_protection_agency epa designate area air health quality empowerment zone air pollution control district local governmental entity area entity authorized regulate air quality area area designation area meets following criteria designated extreme nonattainment national ambient air quality standard ozone nonattainment national ambient air quality standard particulate matter diameter nitrogen oxide emissions farm equipment emissions volatile organic compounds farming nitrogen oxide emissions sources governed primarily international law excess specified amounts meets exceeds national average capita incidence asthma experiences unemployment rates higher national average area entity provide matching contributions federal funds activities carried area strategic plan address air quality challenges achieve attainment air quality standards improve health population area makes effective period area designation shorter years period ending revocation epa authorizes grants carrying area strategic plan


Summary: Requires the Inspector General of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in reports required to be submitted not later than April 30 and October 31 of each calendar year, to include an assessment of the agency's compliance during the applicable period with the following: (1) portions of Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 concerning reporting of regulatory and deregulatory agendas, as well as successor Executive Orders establishing such requirements; (2) regulatory flexibility agenda requirements; (3) portions of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 that require agencies to publish statements describing and assessing state, local, and tribal compliance costs before promulgating any general notice of proposed rulemaking; and (4) requirements of Executive Order 13132 concerning certifications by agencies upon transmittals of draft final regulations of adherence to federalism principles.

requires inspector_general environmental_protection_agency epa reports required submitted later april october calendar year include assessment agency compliance applicable period following portions executive orders concerning reporting regulatory successor executive orders establishing requirements regulatory flexibility agenda requirements portions unfunded mandates reform_act require agencies publish statements describing assessing state local tribal compliance costs promulgating general notice_of_proposed_rulemaking requirements executive order concerning certifications agencies draft final regulations adherence principles


Summary:
Environmental Protection Agency Accountability Act of 2013 - Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure that the following regulatory requirements are satisfied: (1) Executive Order 13563 (concerning regulatory principles) and the regulatory planning procedures of Executive Order 12866, as well as successor Executive Orders concerning reporting of regulatory and deregulatory agendas; (2) regulatory flexibility agenda requirements; (3) requirements of Executive Order 13132 concerning certifications by agencies upon transmittals of draft final regulations of adherence to federalism principles; and (4) portions of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 that require agencies to publish statements describing and assessing state, local, and tribal compliance costs before promulgating any general notice of proposed rulemaking.

Imposes financial penalties, in the form of funding rescissions, upon the Office of the Administrator if the Comptroller General determines that any of the above requirements have not been satisfied. Requires EPA Inspector General audits for any fiscal year in which funds were so rescinded.

environmental_protection_agency accountability_act requires administrator environmental_protection_agency epa ensure following regulatory requirements satisfied executive order concerning regulatory principles regulatory planning procedures executive order successor executive orders concerning reporting regulatory regulatory flexibility agenda requirements requirements executive order concerning certifications agencies draft final regulations adherence principles portions unfunded mandates reform_act require agencies publish statements describing assessing state local tribal compliance costs promulgating general notice_of_proposed_rulemaking imposes financial penalties form funding rescissions office administrator comptroller_general determines requirements satisfied requires epa inspector_general audits fiscal year funds rescinded


Summary:
Conservation Reform Act of 2013 - Directs the Secretary of State to enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study of, and report to Congress on, U.S. international conservation programs to determine the extent to which such programs are: (1) advancing conservation in the world's most ecologically and economically important terrestrial and marine ecosystems; (2) addressing natural resource challenges; (3) advancing U.S. foreign policy priorities in areas such as security, democratization, sustainable food production, and clean water; (4) enhancing economic and wildlife conservation benefits derived from properly managed international hunting and angling tourism; and (5) addressing poaching, illegal logging, fishing, and wildlife trafficking.

Directs the President: (1) to establish the Interagency Working Group on Global Conservation; and (2) through such Working Group, to establish the International Conservation Strategy to strengthen the capacity of the United States to collaborate with other countries, international organizations, the private sector, and private voluntary organizations to conserve natural resources and enhance biodiversity.

Requires: (1) the Strategy to provide a comprehensive plan of action that identifies specific and measurable benchmarks, goals, and time frames; and (2) the Working Group to ensure that the Strategy is appropriate to local needs and conditions and incorporates the views of partner countries.

Establishes the International Conservation Public Advisory Board to: (1) advise the Working Group on matters related to U.S. international conservation policies and programs and the implementation of the Strategy; and (2) ensure that the best scientific, policy, economic security, and business expertise are reflected in U.S. international conservation strategies and policies.

Prohibits any provision in this Act from being construed as restricting, limiting, or otherwise impairing: (1) properly managed recreational hunting and angling, or (2) the ability of any foreign jurisdiction or authority to authorize regulated programs supporting wildlife for local consumption and commercialization.

Urges the President to work with foreign assistance donor countries to: (1) develop a comprehensive international conservation assistance strategy consistent with the United States International Conservation Strategy, (2) identify multilateral mechanisms to coordinate international action, and (3) agree on a timetable for achieving the goals of the United States International Conservation Strategy.

conservation reform_act directs secretary state enter arrangement national_academy_of_sciences conduct study report congress international conservation programs determine extent programs advancing conservation world ecologically economically important terrestrial marine ecosystems addressing natural resource challenges advancing foreign policy priorities areas security sustainable food production clean water enhancing economic wildlife conservation benefits derived properly managed international hunting tourism addressing illegal logging fishing wildlife trafficking directs president establish interagency_working_group global conservation working_group establish international conservation strategy strengthen capacity united_states collaborate countries international organizations private sector private voluntary organizations conserve natural resources enhance biodiversity requires strategy provide comprehensive plan action identifies specific measurable benchmarks goals time frames working_group ensure strategy appropriate local needs conditions incorporates views partner countries establishes international conservation public advisory_board advise working_group matters related international conservation policies programs implementation strategy ensure best scientific policy economic security business expertise reflected international conservation strategies policies prohibits provision act construed restricting limiting impairing properly managed recreational hunting ability foreign jurisdiction authority authorize regulated programs supporting wildlife local consumption commercialization urges president work foreign assistance donor countries develop comprehensive international conservation assistance strategy consistent united_states international conservation strategy identify multilateral mechanisms coordinate international action agree timetable achieving goals united_states international conservation strategy


Summary:
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to review each notice issued by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and published in the Federal Register relating to the preparation of any guidance, policy, memorandum, regulation, or statement of general applicability and future effect that may have a significant impact on a substantial number of agricultural entities.

Requires the Secretary, for each publication item determined to have a possible significant impact, to: (1) solicit from the EPA Administrator information to facilitate a review of the item, (2) produce an economic impact statement, (3) identify representatives of potentially affected agricultural entities to obtain advice and recommendations about the potential impacts of the item, and (4) convene a review panel that includes the Secretary to analyze the publication item.

Provides procedures for submission by the Secretary of comments to the Administrator for inclusion in the administrative record and for waiver of a panel's initiation.

directs secretary agriculture usda review notice issued administrator environmental_protection_agency epa published federal_register relating preparation guidance policy memorandum regulation statement general applicability future effect significant impact substantial number agricultural entities requires secretary publication item determined possible significant impact solicit epa administrator information facilitate review item produce economic impact statement identify representatives potentially affected agricultural entities obtain advice recommendations potential impacts item convene review panel includes secretary analyze publication item provides procedures submission secretary comments administrator inclusion administrative record waiver panel initiation


Summary:
Secret Science Reform Act of 2014 - Amends the Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act of 1978 to prohibit the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from proposing, finalizing, or disseminating a covered action unless all scientific and technical information relied on to support such action is specifically identified and publicly available in a manner sufficient for independent analysis and substantial reproduction of research results.

Defines "covered action" as a risk, exposure, or hazard assessment, criteria document, standard, limitation, regulation, regulatory impact analysis, or guidance.

secret science reform_act amends environmental research development demonstration authorization act prohibit administrator environmental_protection_agency epa proposing finalizing disseminating covered action scientific technical information relied support action specifically identified publicly available manner sufficient independent analysis substantial reproduction research results defines covered action risk exposure hazard assessment criteria document standard limitation regulation regulatory impact analysis guidance


Summary: Endangered Species Litigation Reasonableness Act - Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to replace the current standard for awarding court costs, including attorney fees, in citizen suits with the federal judicial code standard for awarding costs to a prevailing party.

endangered species litigation reasonableness act_-_amends endangered species act replace current standard awarding court costs including attorney fees citizen suits federal judicial code standard awarding costs prevailing party


Summary:
Reducing Environmental Barriers to Unified Infrastructure and Land Development Act of 2015 Act or the REBUILD Act

 This bill amends the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) to authorize: (1) the assignment to states of federal environmental review responsibilities under NEPA and other relevant federal environmental laws for covered federal projects, and (2) states to assume all or part of those responsibilities.

Each responsible federal official who is authorized to assign such responsibility must promulgate regulations that establish requirements relating to information required to be contained in state applications to assume those responsibilities.

 An official may approve an application only if: (1) public notice requirements have been met, (2) the state has the capability to assume the responsibilities, and (3) the head of the state agency having primary jurisdiction over covered projects enters into a written agreement with an official to assume the responsibilities and to maintain the financial resources necessary to carry them out.

The officials must audit state compliance with federal laws for which responsibilities are assumed. The officials may terminate the responsibilities assigned to states after providing notice to states of any noncompliance and an opportunity to take corrective action.

reducing environmental barriers unified infrastructure land development act act rebuild act bill amends national_environmental_policy_act nepa authorize assignment states federal environmental review responsibilities nepa relevant federal environmental laws covered federal projects states assume responsibilities responsible federal official authorized assign responsibility promulgate regulations establish requirements relating information required contained state applications assume responsibilities official approve application public notice requirements met state capability assume responsibilities head state agency having primary jurisdiction covered projects enters written agreement official assume responsibilities maintain financial resources necessary carry officials audit state compliance federal laws responsibilities assumed officials terminate responsibilities assigned states providing notice states noncompliance opportunity corrective action


Summary:
Responsibly And Professionally Invigorating Development Act of 2015 or the RAPID Act

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Administrative Procedure Act to establish procedures to streamline the regulatory review, environmental decision making, and permitting process required by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) for construction projects that are federally funded or that require federal approval by a permit or regulatory decision.

Upon the request of a lead agency responsible for preparing environmental review documents, a project sponsor is authorized to prepare environmental review documents if the agency: (1) oversees the preparation of the documents, (2) provides independent evaluation of them, and (3) approves and adopts the documents prior to taking action or making any approval based on the documents. "Environmental review" means the federal agency procedures for preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS), environmental assessment (EA), categorical exclusion, or other document under NEPA.

No more than one EIS and one EA for a project must be prepared under NEPA, except for supplemental environmental documents prepared under NEPA or environmental documents prepared pursuant to a court order. After the lead agency issues a record of decision, federal agencies responsible for making any approval for that project may only rely on the environmental document prepared by the lead agency.

Upon the request of a project sponsor, the lead agency may: (1) adopt, use, or rely on secondary and cumulative impact analyses included in documents prepared under NEPA for projects located nearby if the analyses are pertinent to the NEPA decision for the project under review; and (2) adopt a document that has been prepared for a project under state laws as the EIS or EA for the project if those laws provide environmental protection and opportunities for public involvement that are substantially equivalent to NEPA.

 The lead agency must publish a supplement to the state document before it adopts it if: (1) a significant change has been made to the project that is relevant for purposes of environmental review of the project, or (2) there have been significant changes in circumstances or availability of information relevant to the environmental review for the project.

A lead agency may adopt for a project an environmental document prepared for a similar project that is nearby and that was subject to environmental review or similar state procedures within the last five years if there is a reasonable likelihood that the project will have similar environmental impacts.

The lead agency must invite any federal agency that is required to adopt the lead agency's environmental document to collaborate in the preparation of the document. A federal cooperating agency must collaborate on the preparation of that document unless it informs the lead agency that it: (1) has no jurisdiction, authority, expertise, or information with respect to the project; and (2) does not intend to submit comments on the project.

 The bill precludes any agency that declines to collaborate from submitting comments on that document or taking measures to oppose any permit, license, or approval related to that project based on the environmental review. The lead agency may not act upon, respond to, or include in any document prepared under NEPA any comment submitted by a cooperating agency that concerns matters that are outside of the cooperating agency's authority and expertise.

Each federal agency must: (1) carry out obligations under other applicable laws concurrently and in conjunction with the review required under NEPA; and (2) make and carry out rules, policies, and procedures as may be reasonably necessary to enable the agency to ensure the completion of the environmental review and environmental decision making process in a timely, coordinated, and environmentally responsible manner.

The bill establishes requirements for initiating and completing environmental review for a project, including requirements with respect to: (1) the range of alternatives to be considered; (2) methodologies for analyzing those alternatives, including potential effects on employment as well as the potential effects of the alternative on low-income communities and communities of color; (3) a plan for coordinating public and agency participation in the environmental review; (4) comment periods for public and agency comments in the environmental review process; and (5) a schedule for completing the review. Cooperating agencies must comply with that schedule.

For projects requiring preparation of an EA, the bill establishes a one-year deadline for issuing a finding of no significant impact or a Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS. For projects requiring preparation of an EIS, the bill establishes a two-year deadline for completing the EIS. Conditions for extensions are established.

The bill sets forth deadlines that apply to projects subject to review under NEPA and any decision under federal law relating to those projects. The bill deems a project to be approved if a federal agency fails to approve or otherwise act upon a permit, license, or other similar application for approval related to a project by those deadlines. Approval that is granted as a result of the failure of a federal agency to act is considered to be final agency action that may not be reversed by an agency.

The bill prescribes responsibilities of the lead agency and the cooperating agencies to work cooperatively to identify and resolve issues that could delay completion of the environmental review or could result in denial of any approvals required for the project under applicable laws.

In the environmental review or environmental decision making process, a lead agency may not use estimates of the monetized damages associated with an incremental increase in carbon dioxide emissions in a given year.

The head of each federal agency must report annually on: (1) the projects for which the agency initiated preparation of an EIS or EA; (2) the projects for which the agency issued a record of decision or a finding of no significant impact and the length of time it took the agency to complete the environmental review for each such project; and (3) the filing and resolution of any lawsuits against the agency seeking judicial review of a permit, license, or approval issued by the agency for an action subject to NEPA.

Limitations are placed on claims arising under federal law seeking judicial review of a permit, license, or approval issued by a federal agency for an action subject to NEPA.

responsibly professionally development act rapid act sec bill amends administrative procedure act establish procedures streamline regulatory review environmental decision making permitting process required national_environmental_policy_act nepa construction projects federally funded require federal approval permit regulatory decision request lead agency responsible preparing environmental review documents project sponsor authorized prepare environmental review documents agency oversees preparation documents provides independent evaluation approves adopts documents prior taking action making approval based documents environmental review means federal agency procedures preparing environmental impact statement eis environmental assessment categorical exclusion document nepa eis project prepared nepa supplemental environmental documents prepared nepa environmental documents prepared pursuant court order lead agency issues record decision federal agencies responsible making approval project rely environmental document prepared lead agency request project sponsor lead agency adopt use rely secondary cumulative impact analyses included documents prepared nepa projects located nearby analyses pertinent nepa decision project review adopt document prepared project state laws eis project laws provide environmental protection opportunities public involvement substantially equivalent nepa lead agency publish supplement state document adopts significant change project relevant purposes environmental review project significant changes circumstances availability information relevant environmental review project lead agency adopt project environmental document prepared similar project nearby subject environmental review similar state procedures years reasonable likelihood project similar environmental impacts lead agency invite federal agency required adopt lead agency environmental document collaborate preparation document federal cooperating agency collaborate preparation document informs lead agency jurisdiction authority expertise information respect project intend submit comments project bill precludes agency declines collaborate submitting comments document taking measures oppose permit license approval related project based environmental review lead agency act respond include document prepared nepa comment submitted cooperating agency concerns matters outside cooperating agency authority expertise federal agency carry obligations applicable laws concurrently conjunction review required nepa carry rules policies procedures reasonably necessary enable agency ensure completion environmental review environmental decision making process timely coordinated environmentally responsible manner bill establishes requirements initiating completing environmental review project including requirements respect range alternatives considered methodologies analyzing alternatives including potential effects employment potential effects alternative low income communities communities color plan coordinating public agency participation environmental review comment periods public agency comments environmental review process schedule completing review cooperating agencies comply schedule projects requiring preparation bill establishes year deadline issuing finding significant impact notice intent prepare eis projects requiring preparation eis bill establishes year deadline completing eis conditions extensions established bill sets forth deadlines apply projects subject review nepa decision federal law relating projects bill deems project approved federal agency fails approve act permit license similar application approval related project deadlines approval granted result failure federal agency act considered final agency action agency bill prescribes responsibilities lead agency cooperating agencies work cooperatively identify resolve issues delay completion environmental review result denial approvals required project applicable laws environmental review environmental decision making process lead agency use estimates damages associated incremental increase carbon dioxide emissions given year head federal agency report annually projects agency initiated preparation eis projects agency issued record decision finding significant impact length time took agency complete environmental review project filing resolution lawsuits agency seeking judicial review permit license approval issued agency action subject nepa limitations placed claims arising federal law seeking judicial review permit license approval issued federal agency action subject nepa


Summary:
Environmental Protection Agency Accountability Act of 2015

This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to satisfy within 30 days regulatory requirements concerning:

 improving planning and regulator review under Executive Order 13563, Executive Order 12866, or any successor executive order establishing requirements applicable to the uniform reporting of regulatory and deregulatory agendas; publishing in the Federal Register its regulatory flexibility agendas; certifying compliance with Executive Order 13132 when transmitting any draft final regulation or proposed legislation that has federalism implication to the Office of Management and Budget; and preparing statements to accompany significant regulatory actions. If the EPA fails to satisfy these requirements, financial penalties in the form of funding rescissions will be imposed on the EPA each week until all the requirements are satisfied. In any year in which funds are rescinded, the EPA Inspector General must conduct an audit to assess the EPA's compliance with this Act.

environmental_protection_agency accountability_act bill requires environmental_protection_agency epa satisfy days regulatory requirements concerning improving planning regulator review executive order executive order successor executive order establishing requirements applicable uniform reporting regulatory publishing federal_register regulatory flexibility certifying compliance executive order transmitting draft final regulation proposed legislation office_of_management_and_budget preparing statements accompany significant regulatory actions epa fails satisfy requirements financial penalties form funding rescissions imposed epa week requirements satisfied year funds rescinded epa inspector_general conduct audit assess epa compliance act


Summary:
EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2015

 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act of 1978 to revise the process of selecting members of the Science Advisory Board, guidelines for participation in Board advisory activities, and terms of office. The Board provides scientific advice to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This bill requires the Board to independently provide that advice.

Among the revisions to requirements concerning the Board's membership are the following:

 a requirement to balance scientific and technical points of view; a set minimum level of representation from state, local, or tribal governments; allowance of affiliation with or representation of entities that may have a potential interest in the Board's advisory activities; conflict of interest restrictions; restrictions on participation in advisory activities involving review of a member's work; restrictions on appointment of registered lobbyists; and prohibitions on member receipt of current EPA grants or contracts. The EPA must make public a list of nominees to the Board and accept public comments on the nominees. Reports filed upon the provisional nomination of a member disclosing financial relationships and interests must also be made public.

The EPA must provide draft risk or hazard assessments in its regulatory proposals and documents to the Board. The Board's advice and comments must be included in the record regarding any such proposal and published in the Federal Register.

The Board's member committees and investigative panels must operate in accordance with the membership, participation, and policy requirements contained in this Act, including new requirements for public participation in advisory activities of the Board. The member committees and investigative panels do not have the authority to make decisions on behalf of the Board and may not report directly to the EPA. The bill imposes additional public participation requirements: The EPA and the Board must make public all reports and relevant scientific information at the same time they are received by the Board. The Board must hold public information-gathering sessions to discuss the state of the science related to a major advisory activity. Prior to convening a member committee or investigative panel, the EPA must accept and address public comments on questions asked of the Board. The Board, member committees, and investigative panels may not accept a question that unduly narrows the scope of an advisory activity. The Board must strive to avoid making policy determinations or recommendations, communicate uncertainties, encourage dissenting members to make their views known, conduct periodic reviews to ensure that its activities address the most important scientific issues affecting the EPA, and respond to Congress fully and in a timely manner.

epa science_advisory_board reform_act sec bill amends environmental research development demonstration authorization act revise process selecting members science_advisory_board guidelines participation board advisory activities terms office board provides scientific advice environmental_protection_agency epa bill requires board independently provide advice revisions requirements concerning board membership following requirement balance scientific technical points view set minimum level representation state local tribal governments allowance affiliation representation entities potential interest board advisory activities conflict interest restrictions restrictions participation advisory activities involving review member work restrictions appointment registered lobbyists prohibitions member receipt current epa grants contracts epa public list nominees board accept public comments nominees reports filed provisional nomination member disclosing financial relationships interests public epa provide draft risk hazard assessments regulatory proposals documents board board advice comments included record proposal published federal_register board member committees investigative panels operate accordance membership participation policy requirements contained act including new requirements public participation advisory activities board member committees investigative panels authority decisions behalf board report directly epa bill imposes additional public participation requirements epa board public reports relevant scientific information time received board board hold public information gathering sessions discuss state science related major advisory activity prior convening member committee investigative panel epa accept address public comments questions asked board board member committees investigative panels accept question unduly scope advisory activity board strive avoid making policy determinations recommendations communicate encourage dissenting members views known conduct periodic reviews ensure activities address important scientific issues affecting epa respond congress fully timely manner


Summary:
Wasteful EPA Programs Elimination Act of 2015

This bill terminates all existing grant programs of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), its National Clean Diesel Campaign, and its environmental justice programs. The EPA may not establish new grant programs.

Federal funds may not be used by the EPA:

 to implement any ozone standard promulgated after this bill's enactment date; to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from mobile sources, or from fossil fuel-fired electric utility generating units; for the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program; for the Global Methane Initiative; for the Climate Resilience Fund; for the Climate Resilience Evaluation Awareness Tool; for the Green Infrastructure Program; for the Climate Ready Water Utilities Initiative; or for climate research at the EPA's Office of Research and Development. The EPA must: (1) discontinue operation and maintenance of its field offices and activities carried out through those offices, and (2) dispose of or lease any underutilized property.

wasteful epa programs elimination act bill terminates existing grant programs environmental_protection_agency epa national clean diesel campaign environmental justice programs epa establish new grant programs federal funds epa implement ozone standard promulgated bill enactment date regulate greenhouse gas emissions mobile sources fossil fuel fired electric utility generating units greenhouse gas reporting program global methane initiative climate resilience fund climate resilience evaluation awareness tool green infrastructure program climate ready water utilities initiative climate research epa office research development epa discontinue operation maintenance field offices activities carried offices dispose lease underutilized property


Summary:
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Highlights: The Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016 provides appropriations for the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and related agencies for FY2016.

The bill provides regular annual appropriations for most of the Department of the Interior, including the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the National Park Service (NPS), the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education. It does not include the Bureau of Reclamation or the Central Utah Project.

Related agencies funded in the bill include the Department of Agriculture's Forest Service, the Department of Health and Human Service's Indian Health Service (IHS), the Smithsonian Institution, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The bill decreases overall discretionary spending for the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies below FY2015 levels.

Compared to FY2015 levels, the bill increases funding for Interior and the IHS while decreasing funding for the EPA and the Forest Service.

Within the Interior budget, the bill:

 increases funding for the BLM, the NPS, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education; decreases funding for the USFWS; and funds the USGS at the FY2015 level. Also included in the bill are several provisions that affect the ability of agencies to issue regulations in areas such as greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, water quality, endangered species, hydraulic fracturing, and oceans policy.

Full Summary:

Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016

Provides FY2016 appropriations for the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and related agencies.

TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Provides appropriations to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for:

 Management of Lands and Resources; Land Acquisition; Oregon and California Grant Lands; Range Improvements; Service Charges, Deposits, and Forfeitures; and Miscellaneous Trust Funds. Prohibits appropriations provided by this bill from being used for: (1) the destruction of healthy, unadopted, wild horses and burros in the care of the BLM or its contractors or, (2) the sale of wild horses and burros that results in their destruction for processing into commercial products. Provides appropriations to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for:

 Resource Management, Construction, Land Acquisition, the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund, the National Wildlife Refuge Fund, the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund, Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation, the Multinational Species Conservation Fund, and State and Tribal Wildlife Grants. Provides appropriations to the National Park Service (NPS) for:

 Operation of the National Park System, National Recreation and Preservation, the Historic Preservation Fund, Construction, Land Acquisition and State Assistance, and the Centennial Challenge. Rescinds FY2016 contract authority provided by the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965.

Permits the NPS to retain specified funds authorized to be disbursed under the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 for the costs of administration of the Land and Water Conservation Fund grants authorized by the Act.

Permits NPS funds to be transferred to the Federal Highway Administration for the Federal Lands Access Program, which was established to improve transportation facilities that provide access to, are adjacent to, or are located within federal lands.

Provides appropriations to the U.S. Geological Survey for Surveys, Investigations, and Research.

Provides appropriations to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management for Ocean Energy Management.

Provides appropriations to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement for: (1) Offshore Safety and Environmental Enforcement, and (2) Oil Spill Research.

Provides appropriations to the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement for: (1) Regulation and Technology, and (2) the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund.

Provides appropriations to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) for:

 Operation of Indian Programs, Construction, Indian Land and Water Claim Settlements and Miscellaneous Payments to Indians, and the Indian Guaranteed Loan Program Account. Permits the BIA to contract for services for the Power Division of the San Carlos Irrigation Project.

Limits the use of funds for contracts, grants, compacts, or cooperative agreements with the BIA under the Indian Self-Determination Act or the Tribal Self-Governance Act of 1994.

Permits tribes to return appropriated funds without diminishing the federal government's trust responsibilities or the government-to-government relationship with the tribe.

Prohibits the use of BIA funds, other than funds provided for assistance to public schools, for the operation of schools in Alaska.

Limits the number of schools and the expansion of grade levels in individual schools in the BIE school system.

Specifies the distribution of indirect and administrative costs to certain tribes.

Prohibits the use of funds for the proposed rule entitled "Federal Acknowledgement of American Indian Tribes."

Provides appropriations for Departmental Offices, including:

 the Office of the Secretary, Insular Affairs, the Office of the Solicitor, the Office of Inspector General, and the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians. Provides funding for the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program to provide compensation to local governments for the loss of tax revenues from the presence of federal land.

Provides appropriations for Department-Wide Programs, including:

 Wildland Fire Management, the FLAME Wildfire Suppression Reserve Fund, the Central Hazardous Materials Fund, the Natural Resource Damage Assessment Fund, and the Working Capital Fund. (Sec. 101) Permits the transfer of funds within bureaus and offices for specified emergencies if: (1) the Secretary of the Interior approves the transfer, (2) funds provided to Interior for emergencies have been exhausted, and (3) funds used under this section are replenished by a supplemental appropriation requested as promptly as possible.

(Sec. 102) Permits the transfer of funds throughout Interior for specified emergencies if the Secretary of the Interior approves the transfer, subject to specified requirements.

(Sec. 103) Permits Interior to use appropriations provided in this title for:

 employing temporary or intermittent experts and consultants; purchasing and replacing motor vehicles; hiring, maintenance, and operation of aircraft; hiring of passenger motor vehicles; purchasing reprints; paying for telephone services in private residences in the field; and paying for library membership in societies or associations which issue publications to members only or at a lower price to members.   (Sec. 104) Permits the transfer of funds between the BIA, the BIE, and the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians for Indian trust management and reform activities, provided that total funding for historical accounting activities does not exceed funding provided by this bill for that purpose.

(Sec. 105) Permits Interior to redistribute any Tribal Priority Allocation funds to alleviate tribal funding inequities by transferring funds to address identified unmet needs, dual enrollment, overlapping service areas, or inaccurate distribution methodologies.

(Sec. 106) Authorizes the acquisition of lands and waters for the purpose of operating and maintaining facilities that support visitors to Ellis, Governors, and Liberty Islands in New Jersey and New York.

(Sec. 107) Directs Interior to collect a nonrefundable inspection fee in FY2016 from operators of facilities subject to inspection under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. Requires the fee to be deposited in the Offshore Safety and Environmental Enforcement account.

Requires specified annual fees to be collected for facilities that are above the waterline, excluding drilling rigs, and in place at the start of the fiscal year.

Requires specified fees for drilling rigs to be assessed for all inspections completed in FY2016.

(Sec. 108) Permits Interior to transfer funds to implement the reorganization of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, subject to reprogramming guidelines.

(Sec. 109) Permits Interior to enter into multiyear cooperative agreements with nonprofits and other entities for the long-term care and maintenance of excess wild horses and burros on private land.

(Sec. 110) Directs the USFWS, in carrying out responsibilities to protect threatened and endangered species of salmon, to implement a system of mass marking of salmonid stocks intended for harvest that are released from federally operated or financed hatcheries.

(Sec. 111) Amends the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012 to make permanent the requirement that a person exhaust administrative hearings and appeal procedures prior to bringing a civil action challenging BLM decisions concerning grazing on public lands.

(Sec. 112) Prohibits funds from being used to implement, administer, or enforce Secretarial Order No. 3310, which requires the BLM to inventory and protect public lands with wilderness characteristics.

(Sec. 113) Amends the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012 to extend the authority of Interior to enter into rental or lease agreements that benefit BIE operated schools.

(Sec. 114) Increases the authorization of appropriations for the National Park Service's Volunteers in Parks program.

(Sec. 115) Permits the BIA and the BIE in carrying out work involving cooperation with state, local, and tribal governments, to record obligations against accounts receivable from the entities, except that total obligations at the end of the fiscal year must not exceed total budgetary resources.

(Sec. 116) Increases or extends the authorizations of appropriations for certain National Heritage Areas.

(Sec. 117) Prohibits funds from being used to write or issue rules for the sage grouse pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

(Sec. 118) Extends the authority for Interior to use funds provided to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement to establish higher minimum rates of pay for certain geophysicists, geologists, and petroleum engineers employed by Interior in the Gulf of Mexico Region.

(Sec. 119) Extends the authority for Interior to use funds provided for the BLM and the BIA to establish higher minimum rates of basic pay for certain petroleum engineers and petroleum engineering technicians employed by Interior to carry out the inspection and regulation of onshore oil and gas operations on public lands.

(Sec. 120) Prohibits funds from being used to draft, prepare, implement, or enforce any new or revised regulation or order related to the domestic trade and transportation of ivory that has been lawfully imported.

(Sec. 121) Requires Interior to reissue two final rules removing recovered wolves in Wyoming and the Great Lakes from the endangered species list, without regard to any other statute or regulation that applies to the issuance of the rules. Exempts the reissuances from judicial review.

(Sec. 122) Requires Interior to amend a specified rule pertaining to the long-eared bat to revise the incidental takes that are permitted and reopen the public comment period.

(Sec. 123) Amends federal regulations to include echinoderms commonly known as sea urchins and sea cucumbers in the shellfish and fishery products imported for human or animal consumption or taken in U.S. waters or on the high seas for recreational purposes that may enter or exit at any customs port.

TITLE II--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

 Provides appropriations to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for:

 Science and Technology, Environmental Programs and Management, the Office of Inspector General, Buildings and Facilities, Hazardous Substance Superfund, the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund Program, Inland Oil Spill Programs, and State and Tribal Assistance Grants. Permits the EPA to award cooperative agreements to federally recognized Indian tribes or intertribal consortia to carry out the Agency's function to implement federal environmental programs required or authorized by law in the absence of an acceptable tribal program.

Authorizes the EPA to collect and obligate pesticide registration service fees.

Permits the EPA to: (1) transfer funds from the Environmental Programs and Management account to other federal agencies to support the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, and (2) enter into interagency agreements and provide grants to certain entities to support the effort.

Permits specified funds to be used for the construction, alteration, repair, rehabilitation, and renovation of facilities.

Requires the EPA to base policies and actions regarding air emissions from forest biomass on the principle that forest biomass emissions do not increase overall carbon dioxide accumulations in the atmosphere when USDA Forest Inventory and Analysis data show that forest carbon stocks in the United States are stable or increasing on a national scale, or when forest biomass is derived from mill residuals, harvest residuals, or forest management activities.

Rescinds specified unobligated balances from the State and Tribal Assistance Grants account.

Permits the EPA to use funds to make grants to federally recognized Indian tribes notwithstanding certain provisions of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act).

TITLE III--RELATED AGENCIES

 Provides appropriations to the Department of Agriculture for the Forest Service, including for:

 Forest and Rangeland Research; State and Private Forestry; the National Forest System; Capital Improvement and Maintenance; Land Acquisition; the Range Betterment Fund; Gifts, Donations, and Bequests for Forest and Rangeland Research; Management of National Forest Lands for Subsistence Uses; Wildland Fire Management; and the FLAME Wildfire Suppression Reserve Fund. Permits Forest Service appropriations to be used for:

 the purchase and use of motor vehicles and aircraft; employment of temporary personnel; purchase, erection, and alteration of buildings and other public improvements; acquisition of land and waters; expenses pursuant to the Volunteers in the National Forest Act of 1972; uniforms; and debt collection contracts. Permits Forest Service appropriations to be transferred to the Wildland Fire Management account for forest fire fighting, emergency rehabilitation of burned-over or damaged lands or waters, and fire preparedness due to severe burning conditions, provided that USDA notifies Congress that all fire suppression funds will be obligated within 30 days. Requires funds used to be replenished by a supplemental appropriation requested as promptly as possible.

Permits Forest Service appropriations to be used for forest and rangeland research, technical information, and related forestry and natural resources activities in foreign countries.

Permits Forest Service appropriations to be transferred to the BLM for removal, preparation, and adoption of excess wild horses and burros from National Forest System lands, and for surveys to designate the boundaries of the lands.

Prohibits Forest Service appropriations from being transferred using authority provided in several specified statutory provisions.

Prohibits Forest Service appropriations from being reprogrammed except with prior approval of Congress and in accordance with procedures contained in the report accompanying this bill.

Limits transfers to the USDA Working Capital Fund and to USDA for Department Reimbursable Programs (commonly referred to as Greenbook charges).

Limits the use of funds to support the Youth Conservation Corps and the Public Lands Corps.

Permits the Chief of the Forest Service to use specified funds for official reception and representation expenses.

Provides matching funds to aid conservation projects of the National Forest Foundation and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Permits funds to be used to provide technical assistance to rural communities and natural resource-based businesses for sustainable rural development purposes.

Permits Forest Service appropriations to be used for payments to counties within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.

Permits Forest Service appropriations to be used to meet the non-federal share requirement included in a provision of the Older Americans Act of 1965 related to the older American community service employment program.

Permits specified funds to be assessed for the purpose of performing fire, administrative, and other facilities maintenance and decommissioning.

Permits specified funds to be used to reimburse the USDA Office of the General Counsel for travel and related expenses incurred as a result of assistance or participation requested by the Forest Service at meetings, training sessions, management reviews, land purchase negotiations, and similar non-litigation related matters.

Permits an individual employed under any project funded under title V of the Older Americans Act of 1965 to be considered a federal employee.

Provides appropriations to the Department of Health and Human Services for:

 the Indian Health Service (IHS) for Indian Health Services and Indian Health Facilities, the National Institutes of Health for the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Provides appropriations to Other Related Agencies, including the:

 Executive Office of the President for the Council on Environmental Quality and Office of Environmental Quality; the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board; the Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation; the Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development; the Smithsonian Institution; the National Gallery of Art; the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars; the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities, including the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities; the Commission of Fine Arts; the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation; the National Capital Planning Commission; and the Holocaust Memorial Museum. TITLE IV--GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sets forth permissible, restricted, and prohibited uses for funds provided by this and other appropriations Acts.

(Sec. 401) Prohibits funds from being used to promote public support or opposition to any legislative proposal before Congress.

(Sec. 402) Prohibits any appropriation contained in this bill from remaining available for obligation beyond the current fiscal year unless expressly permitted in this bill.

(Sec. 403) Requires specified administrative expenses to be presented in annual budget justifications and approved by Congress.

(Sec. 404) Prohibits funds from being used to accept or process applications for a patent for any mining or mill site claim located under the general mining laws, subject to exceptions.

(Sec. 405) Extends limits on the use of FY1994-FY2013 and FY2014 funds for contract support costs on Indian contracts.

(Sec. 406) Limits the use of FY2016 funds for contract support costs on Indian contracts.

(Sec. 407) Permits Forest Service land management plans that are more than 15 years old if USDA is acting in good faith to update the plans.

(Sec. 408) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used to conduct preleasing, leasing, and related activities under either the Mineral Leasing Act or the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act within the boundaries of a National Monument.

(Sec. 409) Restricts land acquisition funds provided by this bill from being used for declarations of taking or complaints in condemnation without the approval of Congress. Includes an exception for funds provided to implement the Everglades National Park Protection and Expansion Act of 1989, or for Florida to acquire lands for Everglades restoration.

(Sec. 410) Sets forth requirements regarding the sale of timber from a specified region in Alaska.

(Sec. 411) Prohibits no-bid contracts and grants except under certain circumstances where a contract is authorized by federal law or was awarded prior to the date of enactment of this bill.

(Sec. 412) Requires agencies receiving funds in this bill to post on their public websites any report required to be submitted by Congress if it serves the national interest. Includes exceptions for national security or proprietary information.

(Sec. 413) Establishes grant guidelines for the NEA.

(Sec. 414) Establishes priorities for programs administered by the NEA.

(Sec. 415) Directs Interior, the EPA, the Forest Service, and the IHS to provide Congress with quarterly reports on the status of balances of appropriations.

(Sec. 416) Directs the President to submit a comprehensive report to Congress detailing all federal agency funding for climate change programs, projects, and activities in FY2015 and FY2016.

(Sec. 417) Prohibits funds from being used to promulgate or implement any regulation requiring the issuance of permits under the Clean Air Act for carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, water vapor, or methane emissions resulting from biological processes associated with livestock production.

(Sec. 418) Prohibits the use of any funds to implement any provision in a rule that requires mandatory reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from manure management systems.

(Sec. 419) Amends the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act to extend current recreation fee authority.

(Sec. 420) Amends the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2000 to extend the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission. Prohibits the Commission from issuing a solicitation or contract for construction of the memorial for FY2016.

(Sec. 421) Prohibits funds from being used to regulate the lead content of ammunition, ammunition components, or fishing tackle under the Toxic Substances Control Act or any other law.

(Sec. 422) Prohibits funds from being used to develop, adopt, implement, administer, or enforce any change to the regulations and guidance in effect on October 1, 2012, pertaining to the definition of waters under the jurisdiction of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) including specified rules pertaining to such jurisdiction.

(Sec. 423) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used to carry out or otherwise enforce proposed regulations published by Interior's Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement related to protecting streams from the impacts of surface mining operations.

(Sec. 424) Prohibits funds from being used to prohibit the use or access to federal land for hunting, fishing, or recreational shooting except for public safety.

(Sec. 425) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used to implement the coastal and marine spatial planning and ecosystem-based management components of the National Ocean Policy.

(Sec. 426) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used to implement or enforce the EPA's Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule until the EPA has approved a commercially available lead test kit.

(Sec. 427) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used to implement or enforce any regulation that would establish new financial responsibility requirements pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA).

(Sec. 428) Prohibits EPA from using funds provided by this bill to develop, issue, implement, or enforce any greenhouse gas New Source Performance Standards on any new or existing source that is an electric utility generating unit.

(Sec. 429) Prohibits the EPA from using funds to develop, adopt, implement, administer, or enforce any change to the regulations in effect on October 1, 2012, pertaining to the definition of the terms "fill material" or "discharge of fill material" for the purposes of the Clean Water Act.

(Sec. 430) Extends contracting authority that permits USDA and Interior to consider local contractors when awarding contracts for certain activities on public lands.

(Sec. 431) Amends the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998 to extend the authorization of appropriations through FY2017.

(Sec. 432) Extends the authority of the Forest Service to renew certain grazing permits.

(Sec. 433) Requires Interior and USDA to make vacant grazing allotments available to holders of grazing permits or leases if lands covered by the permits or leases or other grazing lands used by the holder are unusable because of drought or wildfire.

(Sec. 434) Prohibits funds from being used to require the transfer of a water right as a condition for the issuance, renewal, amendment, or extension of any permit, approval, license, lease, allotment, easement, right-of-way, or other land use or occupancy agreement.

Prohibits funds from being used to require any water user to apply for or acquire a water right in the name of the United States under state law as a condition of the issuance, renewal, amendment, or extension of any permit, approval, license, lease, allotment, easement, right-of-way, or other land use or occupancy agreement.

(Sec. 435) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used for regulations or guidance under the Clean Air Act that changes the status of any hydrofluorocarbon used as a refrigerant or in foam blowing agents, applications, or uses from acceptable to unacceptable for purposes of the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program. (The SNAP program is EPA's program to evaluate and regulate substitutes for ozone-depleting chemicals that are being phased out under the stratospheric ozone protection provisions of the Clean Air Act.)

(Sec. 436) Prohibits any funds made available by a drinking water treatment revolving loan fund as authorized by the Safe Drinking Water Act from being used for a project for the construction, alteration, maintenance, or repair of a public water system or treatment works unless all of the iron and steel products used in the project are produced in the United States, subject to specified exceptions and waiver procedures.

(Sec. 437) Prohibits funds from being used to incorporate the social cost of carbon into any rulemaking or guidance document until a new Interagency Working Group makes specified revisions to the estimates.

(Sec. 438) Prohibits the EPA from using funds provided by this bill for a national primary or secondary ambient air quality standard for ozone that is lower than the standard in effect on July 2, 2014, until at least 85% of the counties that were nonattainment areas under that standard achieve full compliance with the previous standard.

(Sec. 439) Prohibits funds from being used for the final rule entitled "Hydraulic Fracturing on Federal and Indian Lands."

(Sec. 440) Establishes a spending reduction account for the amount by which spending proposed in this bill exceeds the subcommittee's allocation under the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. Specifies that the amount is $0. (Under the Rules of the House of Representatives, any savings included in the spending reduction account are not available for further appropriation during consideration of the bill.)

measure amended introduced summary expanded action occurred measure department_of_the_interior environment related agencies appropriations act provides appropriations department_of_the_interior environmental_protection_agency epa related agencies fy2016 bill provides regular annual appropriations department_of_the_interior including bureau_of_land_management blm fish_and_wildlife_service usfws national_park_service nps united_states_geological_survey usgs bureau_of_ocean_energy_management bureau_of_safety_and_environmental_enforcement office_of_surface_mining_reclamation_and_enforcement bureau_of_indian_affairs bureau_of_indian_education include bureau_of_reclamation central_utah_project related agencies funded bill include department_of_agriculture forest_service department_of_health_and_human_service indian_health_service ihs smithsonian_institution national_endowment_for_the_arts national_endowment_for_the_humanities bill decreases overall discretionary spending department_of_the_interior environment related agencies fy2015 levels compared fy2015 levels bill increases funding interior ihs decreasing funding epa forest_service interior budget bill increases funding blm nps office_of_surface_mining_reclamation_and_enforcement bureau_of_indian_affairs bureau_of_indian_education decreases funding usfws funds usgs fy2015 level included bill provisions affect ability agencies issue regulations areas greenhouse gas emissions air pollution water quality endangered species hydraulic fracturing oceans policy summary department_of_the_interior environment related agencies appropriations act provides fy2016 appropriations department_of_the_interior environmental_protection_agency epa related agencies title department_of_the_interior provides appropriations bureau_of_land_management blm management lands resources land acquisition oregon california grant lands range improvements service charges deposits forfeitures miscellaneous trust funds prohibits appropriations provided bill destruction healthy wild horses burros care blm contractors sale wild horses burros results destruction processing commercial products provides appropriations fish_and_wildlife_service usfws resource management construction land acquisition cooperative endangered species conservation fund national wildlife refuge fund north american wetlands conservation fund migratory bird conservation multinational_species_conservation_fund state tribal wildlife grants provides appropriations national_park_service nps operation national_park_system national recreation preservation historic preservation fund construction land acquisition state assistance centennial challenge rescinds fy2016 contract authority provided land_and_water_conservation_fund_act permits nps retain specified funds authorized disbursed gulf_of_mexico_energy_security_act costs administration land_and_water_conservation_fund grants authorized act permits nps funds transferred federal_highway_administration federal lands access program established improve transportation facilities provide access adjacent located federal lands provides appropriations geological survey surveys investigations research provides appropriations bureau_of_ocean_energy_management ocean energy management provides appropriations bureau_of_safety_and_environmental_enforcement offshore safety environmental enforcement oil spill research provides appropriations office_of_surface_mining_reclamation_and_enforcement regulation technology abandoned_mine_reclamation_fund provides appropriations bureau_of_indian_affairs bia bureau_of_indian_education operation indian programs construction indian land water claim settlements miscellaneous payments indians indian guaranteed loan program account permits bia contract services power division san irrigation project limits use funds contracts grants compacts cooperative agreements bia indian self determination act tribal self governance act permits tribes return appropriated funds diminishing federal_government trust responsibilities government government relationship tribe prohibits use bia funds funds provided assistance public schools operation schools alaska limits number schools expansion grade levels individual schools school system specifies distribution indirect administrative costs certain tribes prohibits use funds proposed rule entitled federal acknowledgement american indian tribes provides appropriations departmental offices including office_of_the_secretary insular affairs office office_of_inspector_general office special trustee american indians provides funding payments lieu taxes pilt program provide compensation local governments loss tax revenues presence federal land provides appropriations department wide programs including wildland_fire_management flame wildfire suppression reserve fund central hazardous materials fund natural resource damage assessment fund working capital_fund sec permits transfer funds bureaus offices specified emergencies secretary interior approves transfer funds provided interior emergencies exhausted funds section supplemental appropriation requested promptly possible sec permits transfer funds interior specified emergencies secretary interior approves transfer subject specified requirements sec permits interior use appropriations provided title employing temporary intermittent experts consultants purchasing replacing motor vehicles hiring maintenance operation aircraft hiring passenger motor vehicles purchasing paying telephone services private residences field paying library membership societies associations issue publications members lower price members sec permits transfer funds bia office special trustee american indians indian trust management reform activities provided total funding historical accounting activities exceed funding provided bill purpose sec permits interior redistribute tribal priority allocation funds alleviate tribal funding inequities transferring funds address identified unmet needs dual enrollment overlapping service areas inaccurate distribution methodologies sec authorizes acquisition lands waters purpose operating maintaining facilities support visitors governors liberty islands new_jersey new_york sec directs interior collect nonrefundable inspection fee fy2016 operators facilities subject inspection outer_continental_shelf_lands_act requires fee deposited offshore safety environmental enforcement account requires specified annual fees collected facilities excluding drilling rigs place start fiscal year requires specified fees drilling rigs assessed inspections completed fy2016 sec permits interior transfer funds implement reorganization bureau_of_ocean_energy_management regulation enforcement subject reprogramming guidelines sec permits interior enter multiyear cooperative agreements nonprofits entities long-term_care maintenance excess wild horses burros private land sec directs usfws carrying responsibilities protect threatened endangered species salmon implement system mass marking salmonid stocks intended harvest released federally operated financed hatcheries sec amends consolidated_appropriations_act permanent requirement person exhaust administrative hearings appeal procedures prior bringing civil action challenging blm decisions concerning grazing public lands sec prohibits funds implement administer enforce secretarial order requires blm inventory protect public lands wilderness characteristics sec amends consolidated_appropriations_act extend authority interior enter rental lease agreements benefit operated schools sec increases authorization appropriations national_park_service volunteers parks program sec permits bia carrying work involving cooperation state local tribal governments record obligations accounts entities total obligations end fiscal year exceed total budgetary resources sec increases extends authorizations appropriations certain national heritage areas sec prohibits funds write issue rules sage grouse pursuant endangered species act sec extends authority interior use funds provided bureau_of_ocean_energy_management bureau_of_safety_and_environmental_enforcement establish higher minimum rates pay certain petroleum engineers employed interior gulf_of_mexico region sec extends authority interior use funds provided blm bia establish higher minimum rates basic pay certain petroleum engineers petroleum engineering technicians employed interior carry inspection regulation onshore oil gas operations public lands sec prohibits funds draft prepare implement enforce new revised regulation order related domestic trade transportation lawfully imported sec requires interior reissue final rules removing recovered wolves wyoming great_lakes endangered species list regard statute regulation applies issuance rules exempts judicial review sec requires interior amend specified rule pertaining long revise incidental takes permitted reopen public comment period sec amends federal regulations include commonly known sea sea shellfish fishery products imported human animal consumption taken waters high seas recreational purposes enter exit customs port title environmental_protection_agency provides appropriations environmental_protection_agency epa science_and_technology environmental programs management office_of_inspector_general buildings facilities hazardous_substance_superfund leaking underground storage tank trust_fund program inland oil spill programs state tribal assistance grants permits epa award cooperative agreements federally recognized indian tribes intertribal consortia carry agency function implement federal environmental programs required authorized law absence acceptable tribal program authorizes epa collect obligate pesticide registration service fees permits epa transfer funds environmental programs management account federal agencies support great_lakes restoration initiative enter interagency agreements provide grants certain entities support effort permits specified funds construction alteration repair rehabilitation renovation facilities requires epa base policies actions air emissions forest biomass principle forest biomass emissions increase overall carbon dioxide atmosphere usda forest inventory analysis data forest carbon stocks united_states stable increasing national scale forest biomass derived mill residuals harvest residuals forest management activities rescinds specified unobligated balances state tribal assistance grants account permits epa use funds grants federally recognized indian tribes notwithstanding certain provisions federal_water_pollution_control_act commonly known clean water act title iii related agencies provides appropriations department_of_agriculture forest_service including forest rangeland research state private forestry national_forest_system capital improvement maintenance land acquisition range fund gifts donations bequests forest rangeland research management national_forest lands subsistence uses wildland_fire_management flame wildfire suppression reserve fund permits forest_service appropriations purchase use motor vehicles aircraft employment temporary personnel purchase alteration buildings public improvements acquisition land waters expenses pursuant volunteers national_forest act uniforms debt collection contracts permits forest_service appropriations transferred wildland_fire_management account forest fire fighting emergency rehabilitation burned damaged lands waters fire preparedness severe burning conditions provided usda notifies congress fire suppression funds obligated days requires funds supplemental appropriation requested promptly possible permits forest_service appropriations forest rangeland research technical information related forestry natural resources activities foreign countries permits forest_service appropriations transferred blm removal preparation adoption excess wild horses burros national_forest_system lands surveys designate boundaries lands prohibits forest_service appropriations transferred authority provided specified statutory provisions prohibits forest_service appropriations reprogrammed prior approval congress accordance procedures contained report accompanying bill limits transfers usda working capital_fund usda department reimbursable programs commonly referred charges limits use funds support youth conservation corps public_lands_corps permits chief forest_service use specified funds official reception representation expenses provides matching funds aid conservation projects national_forest foundation national_fish_and_wildlife_foundation permits funds provide technical assistance rural communities natural resource based businesses sustainable rural_development purposes permits forest_service appropriations payments counties columbia_river national scenic area permits forest_service appropriations meet non federal share requirement included provision older americans act related older american community service employment program permits specified funds assessed purpose performing fire administrative facilities maintenance decommissioning permits specified funds reimburse usda office general counsel travel related expenses incurred result assistance participation requested forest_service meetings training sessions management reviews land purchase negotiations similar non litigation related matters permits individual employed project funded title older americans act considered federal employee provides appropriations department_of_health_and_human_services indian_health_service ihs indian health services indian health facilities national_institutes_of_health national_institute_of_environmental_health_sciences agency toxic substances disease registry provides appropriations related agencies including executive_office president council_on_environmental_quality office environmental quality chemical safety hazard investigation board office navajo hopi indian relocation institute american indian alaska_native culture arts development smithsonian_institution national_gallery_of_art john kennedy center performing arts wilson international center scholars national foundation arts humanities including national_endowment_for_the_arts national_endowment_for_the_humanities commission fine arts advisory_council historic preservation national_capital_planning_commission holocaust memorial museum title general_provisions sets forth permissible restricted prohibited uses funds provided appropriations acts sec prohibits funds promote public support opposition legislative proposal congress sec prohibits appropriation contained bill remaining available obligation current fiscal year expressly permitted bill sec requires specified administrative expenses presented annual budget justifications approved congress sec prohibits funds accept process applications patent mining mill site claim located general mining laws subject exceptions sec extends limits use fy2013 fy2014 funds contract support costs indian contracts sec limits use fy2016 funds contract support costs indian contracts sec permits forest_service land management plans years old usda acting good faith update plans sec prohibits funds provided bill conduct preleasing leasing related activities mineral_leasing_act outer_continental_shelf_lands_act boundaries national_monument sec restricts land acquisition funds provided bill declarations taking complaints condemnation approval congress includes exception funds provided implement everglades national park protection expansion act florida acquire lands everglades restoration sec sets forth requirements sale timber specified region alaska sec prohibits bid contracts grants certain circumstances contract authorized federal law awarded prior date enactment bill sec requires agencies receiving funds bill post public websites report required submitted congress serves national interest includes exceptions national security proprietary information sec establishes grant guidelines sec establishes priorities programs administered sec directs interior epa forest_service ihs provide congress quarterly reports status balances appropriations sec directs president submit comprehensive report congress detailing federal agency funding climate change programs projects activities fy2015 fy2016 sec prohibits funds promulgate implement regulation requiring issuance permits clean_air act carbon dioxide nitrous oxide water vapor methane emissions resulting biological processes associated livestock production sec prohibits use funds implement provision rule requires mandatory reporting greenhouse gas emissions manure management systems sec amends federal_lands_recreation_enhancement_act extend current recreation fee authority sec amends department_of_defense_appropriations_act extend memorial commission prohibits commission issuing solicitation contract construction memorial fy2016 sec prohibits funds regulate lead content ammunition ammunition components fishing tackle toxic_substances_control_act law sec prohibits funds develop adopt implement administer enforce change regulations guidance effect october pertaining definition waters jurisdiction federal_water_pollution_control_act commonly known clean water act including specified rules pertaining jurisdiction sec prohibits funds provided bill carry enforce proposed regulations published interior office_of_surface_mining_reclamation_and_enforcement related protecting streams impacts surface mining operations sec prohibits funds prohibit use access federal land hunting fishing recreational shooting public safety sec prohibits funds provided bill implement coastal marine spatial planning ecosystem based management components national ocean policy sec prohibits funds provided bill implement enforce epa lead renovation repair rule epa approved commercially available lead test kit sec prohibits funds provided bill implement enforce regulation establish new financial responsibility requirements pursuant comprehensive environmental response compensation liability act cercla sec prohibits epa funds provided bill develop issue implement enforce greenhouse gas new source performance standards new existing source electric utility generating unit sec prohibits epa funds develop adopt implement administer enforce change regulations effect october pertaining definition terms fill material discharge fill material purposes clean water act sec extends contracting authority permits usda interior consider local contractors awarding contracts certain activities public lands sec amends chesapeake_bay initiative act extend authorization appropriations fy2017 sec extends authority forest_service renew certain grazing permits sec requires interior usda vacant grazing allotments available holders grazing permits leases lands covered permits leases grazing lands holder unusable drought wildfire sec prohibits funds require transfer water right condition issuance renewal amendment extension permit approval license lease allotment easement right way land use occupancy agreement prohibits funds require water user apply acquire water right united_states state law condition issuance renewal amendment extension permit approval license lease allotment easement right way land use occupancy agreement sec prohibits funds provided bill regulations guidance clean_air act changes status agents applications uses acceptable unacceptable purposes significant new alternatives policy snap program snap program epa program evaluate regulate substitutes ozone depleting chemicals phased stratospheric ozone protection provisions clean_air act sec prohibits funds available drinking water treatment revolving loan fund authorized safe_drinking_water_act project construction alteration maintenance repair public water system treatment works iron steel products project produced united_states subject specified exceptions waiver procedures sec prohibits funds incorporate social cost carbon rulemaking guidance document new interagency_working_group makes specified revisions estimates sec prohibits epa funds provided bill national primary secondary ambient air quality standard ozone lower standard effect july counties nonattainment areas standard achieve compliance previous standard sec prohibits funds final rule entitled hydraulic fracturing federal indian lands sec establishes spending reduction account spending proposed bill exceeds subcommittee allocation congressional_budget_act specifies rules house_of_representatives savings included spending reduction account available appropriation consideration bill


Summary:
This bill replaces certain environmental laws in the United States Code with provisions in the new Title 55, Environment, as part of an effort to consolidate environmental acts found in several sections of the code into one title. Subtitle I of Title 55 contains provisions that establish the Environmental Protection Agency, national environmental policy, the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and the Council on Environmental Quality. Subtitle II contains provisions about air quality and air pollution control, including provisions from the Clean Air Act and related laws.

A change in wording made in the restatement of existing law enacted by this bill is meant to elucidate the existing law, but not to change the meaning or effect of the existing law.

bill replaces certain environmental laws united_states code provisions new title environment effort consolidate environmental acts found sections code title subtitle title contains provisions establish environmental_protection_agency national environmental policy national_environmental_policy_act council_on_environmental_quality subtitle contains provisions air quality air pollution control including provisions clean_air act related laws change restatement existing law enacted bill meant existing law change meaning effect existing law


Summary:
This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to limit 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 under the Clean Water Act.

bill amends federal_water_pollution_control_act commonly known clean water act limit awarded costs litigation citizen suits award litigation costs exceed proportional number successful claims included complaint monetary penalties award litigation costs based prevailing rates local market area violation occurred kind quality services furnished citizen suits commenced environmental_protection_agency state commenced diligently prosecuting civil criminal action issuance compliance order bill provides certain affirmative defenses person liable unlawful discharge pollutant clean water act


Summary:
Stopping EPA Overreach Act of 2015

This bill amends the Clean Air Act to exclude carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride pollution from the scope of that Act.

The bill declares that current law does not authorize or require the regulation of climate change or global warming and nullifies certain proposed rules relating to greenhouse gas and carbon pollution emissions.

Before proposing or finalizing regulations or policies, the Environmental Protection Agency must analyze the net and gross impact of those regulations and policies on employment. Regulations and policies may not take effect if they have a negative impact on employment, unless they are approved by Congress and signed by the President.

stopping epa overreach act bill amends clean_air act exclude carbon dioxide water vapor methane nitrous oxide hydrofluorocarbons perfluorocarbons sulfur hexafluoride pollution scope act bill declares current law authorize require regulation climate change global warming nullifies certain proposed rules relating greenhouse gas carbon pollution emissions proposing finalizing regulations policies environmental_protection_agency analyze net gross impact regulations policies employment regulations policies effect negative impact employment approved congress signed president


Summary:
EPA Maximum Achievable Contraction of Technocrats Act of 2015

This bill directs the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce its total number of employees by 15% by a certain workforce reduction target date.

epa maximum achievable act bill directs environmental_protection_agency reduce total number employees certain workforce reduction target date


Summary:
End EPA Advertising Act

This bill prohibits the Environmental Protection Agency from awarding contracts for public relations, market research, or other similar activities.

end epa advertising act bill prohibits environmental_protection_agency awarding contracts public relations market research similar activities


Summary:
Environmental Justice Act of 2016

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a credit against the employment taxes of a tax-exempt organization equal to 40% of amounts paid or incurred by such organization to support environmental justice communities or projects. The limit on the amount of such credit for a calendar year is $10,000.

environmental justice act bill amends_the_internal_revenue_code allow credit employment taxes tax exempt organization equal amounts paid incurred organization support environmental justice communities projects limit credit calendar year


Summary:
End EPA Rogue Spending Act

This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to deposit any fees it collects into the general fund of the Treasury and prohibits the EPA from spending the fees unless the authority is provided in advance by an appropriations Act.

end epa rogue spending act bill requires environmental_protection_agency epa deposit fees collects general_fund_of_the_treasury prohibits epa spending fees authority provided advance appropriations act


Summary:
This bill establishes a U.S. Green Bank that provides financial support to assist regional, state, and local institutions finance: (1) clean energy (e.g. solar or wind energy) projects, or (2) energy efficiency projects that reduce energy use or substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Department of the Treasury must issue Green Bonds to provide the bank with: (1) an initial capitalization of $10 billion; and (2) additional capitalization, upon the bank's request, of no more than $50 billion in aggregate at any one time.

Treasury must also establish a revolving Green Bank Establishment Fund.

bill establishes green bank provides financial support assist regional state local institutions finance clean energy solar wind energy projects energy efficiency projects reduce energy use substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions department_of_the_treasury issue green bonds provide bank initial capitalization billion additional capitalization bank request billion aggregate time treasury establish revolving green bank establishment fund


Summary: This bill prohibits the Environmental Protection Agency from using funds to carry out the Environmental Justice Small Grants Program, which helps communities understand and address exposure to multiple environmental harms and risks.

bill prohibits environmental_protection_agency funds carry environmental justice small grants program helps communities understand address exposure multiple environmental harms risks