A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to provide additional authorizations for certain operating programs under the Act.
Public Law 95-576 · H.R. 12140 · 95th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Nov 2, 1978 · Environmental Protection
Sponsor: Rep. Harold Johnson (D-CA-1)
Cosponsors (2): Rep. Herbert Roberts, Rep. Donald Clausen
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to supplement previous authorizations for designated operating programs.
Allows specified discharges of oil and hazardous substances into or upon the navigable waters of the United States or the contiguous zone which are determined to be in full compliance with the conditions of a permit or application for a permit issued pursuant to such Act.
Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to report to Congress on procedures to achieve a higher standard of care in the management and movement of hazardous substances by all parties. Includes within such report limits of liability and third party damages liability, penalties and fees, and spill prevention plans.
Prohibits the discharge of such pollutants in such quantities as may be harmful to the public health or welfare of the United States as determined by the President.
Stipulates that any person in charge of a vessel or an onshore facility must report to the Coast Guard any illegal discharge of oil or an hazardous substance if such person is subject to the jurisdiction of the United States at the time of such discharge. Subjects any owner, operator, or person in charge of a vessel or an offshore facility who is subject to the jurisdiction of the United States at the time of such discharge to a penalty of up to $5,000 for each violation.
Authorizes the Administrator (1) to commence a civil action in a Federal district court against any such persons and (2) to impose a penalty based on consideration of size of the business, the effect of a penalty on business, the gravity of the violation, and the nature, extent, and degree of success to minimize or mitigate the effects of the discharge. States that the penalty shall not exceed $50,000 unless the discharge was the result of willful negligence or misconduct on the part of the owner, operator, or person in charge, in which case the penalty shall not exceed $250,000.
Stipulates that any cost of removal of a permitted discharge from a point source with a permit issued pursuant to such Act shall be recoverable from the owner or operator.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 14 actions.
- Nov 2, 1978Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 95-576.
- Oct 24, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Oct 14, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendment.
- FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
- Jun 7, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
- Jun 5, 1978FloorFloor · Measure passed House, roll call #407 (338-9).House roll call 407
- FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- May 1, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
- Apr 13, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.