Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act

Summary#

This bill, the Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act, tells the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to write a final rule within 60 days after the law is enacted. The rule must stop the discharge of plastic pellets and other pre-production plastic materials (including wastewater and runoff) from:

  • Facilities regulated under 40 C.F.R. parts 414 or 463; and
  • Any point source (as defined in the Clean Water Act) that makes, uses, packages, or transports those plastic pellets or other pre-production plastic materials.

The bill also requires that these prohibitions be reflected in:

  • All wastewater, stormwater, and other permits issued under section 402 of the Clean Water Act by EPA and State-delegated programs for the covered facilities and point sources; and
  • All standards of performance under section 312(p) of the Clean Water Act that apply to those point sources.

The bill text sets the rule deadline (60 days) and the types of discharges and permits covered. It does not include enforcement details, penalties, or cost estimates.

What it means for you#

  • If you operate or manage a facility that makes, uses, packages, or transports plastic pellets or other pre-production plastic materials, the bill directs EPA to prohibit discharging those materials to wastewater and runoff and to include those limits in relevant permits.
  • If you are a state agency that issues NPDES permits under section 402, EPA must reflect the prohibition in permits delegated to your program, as determined by EPA.
  • If you are a member of the public, the bill directs EPA to act quickly (60 days) to set these limits, but the bill text does not describe how enforcement or compliance will work.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on estimated costs or budgetary effects is included in the bill text or provided metadata. The bill does require EPA to promulgate a final rule within 60 days, which could involve agency administrative work, but the bill does not provide cost details.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information on proponents' stated reasons or arguments appears in the bill text. The bill was introduced by Representative Mike Levin and many cosponsors (see metadata for the sponsor list).

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information on opponents' stated reasons or arguments appears in the bill text or provided metadata.