Sec. 20. Report on wastewater infrastructure funding for rural, economically disadvantaged, and Tribal communities

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Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall initiate a study on the distribution of wastewater infrastructure funds to rural communities, economically disadvantaged communities, and Tribal communities during the 20 fiscal years preceding the date of enactment of this Act. In carrying out the study under this section, the Administrator shall— consult with other Federal agencies, State, local, and Tribal governments, owners and operators of publicly owned treatment works, and stakeholder organizations, including organizations with experience in investigating or addressing the wastewater infrastructure needs of rural communities, economically disadvantaged communities, and Tribal communities; undertake at least one public meeting in a rural community, in an economically disadvantaged community, and in a Tribal community, to receive testimony from the public; examine whether the distribution of wastewater infrastructure funds during the period covered by the study has been in accordance with any applicable executive order or policy regarding environmental justice; examine how wastewater infrastructure funds have been distributed with respect to the identified needs of rural communities, economically disadvantaged communities, and Tribal communities, and whether such funds have addressed the needs of such communities equitably when compared to how such funds have been distributed with respect to the identified needs of communities that are not rural, economically disadvantaged, or Tribal; and consider any additional factors that the Administrator determines necessary or appropriate to determine whether rural communities, economically disadvantaged communities, and Tribal communities have equitable access to wastewater infrastructure funds to comply with applicable requirements of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.).

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report describing— the results of the study carried out under this section; and any recommendations to Congress, or to State, local, and Tribal governments, to ensure that rural communities, economically disadvantaged communities, and Tribal communities can equitably access wastewater infrastructure funds in amounts sufficient to address local wastewater infrastructure needs and local water quality challenges.

In this section: The term economically disadvantaged community means— a municipality that meets the affordability criteria of a State established under section 603(i)(2) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1383(i)(2) ); a community with respect to which a municipality can demonstrate that households in the community experience significant economic hardship related to wastewater infrastructure; or a community that is located in an area that meets the criteria described in paragraph

(1)or

(2)of section 301(a) of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 ( 42 U.S.C. 3161(a) ). The terms municipality and treatment works have the meanings given those terms in section 502 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1362 ). The term wastewater infrastructure funds means funds made available for projects or activities under or pursuant to— title VI of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.); section 122 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1274 ); section 220 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1300 ); and section 221 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1301 ).

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Sec. 20

Report on wastewater infrastructure funding for rural, economically disadvantaged, and Tribal communities

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