S. 971 — Introduced in Senate

II 113th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 971 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 16, 2013 Mr. Wyden (for himself, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Baucus, and Mr. Risch) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works A BILL To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to exempt the conduct of silvicultural activities from national pollutant discharge elimination system permitting requirements. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Silviculture Regulatory Consistency Act. 2. Silvicultural activities Section 402(l) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1342(l)) is amended by adding at the end the following: (3) Silvicultural activities (A) NPDES permit requirements for silvicultural activities The Administrator shall not require a permit or otherwise promulgate regulations under this section or directly or indirectly require any State to require a permit under this section for a discharge of stormwater runoff resulting from the conduct of the following silvicultural activities: nursery operations, site preparation, reforestation and subsequent cultural treatment, thinning, prescribed burning, pest and fire control, harvesting operations, surface drainage, and road use, construction, and maintenance. (B) Permits for dredged or fill material Nothing in this paragraph exempts a silvicultural activity resulting in the discharge of dredged or fill material from any permitting requirement under section 404. .