Reducing permitting uncertainty

(a) In general Section 404(c) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1344(c)) is amended— (1) by striking (c) The Administrator and inserting the following: (c) Specification or use of defined area (1) In general The Administrator; (2) in paragraph (1), as so designated, by inserting during the period described in paragraph (2) and before after notice and opportunity for public hearings; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (2) Period of prohibition The period during which the Administrator may prohibit the specification (including the withdrawal of specification) of any defined area as a disposal site, or deny or restrict the use of any defined area for specification (including the withdrawal of specification) as a disposal site, under paragraph (1) shall— (A) begin on the date on which an applicant submits all the information required to complete an application for a permit under this section; and (B) end on the date on which the Secretary issues the permit.. (b) Applicability The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to a permit application submitted under section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1344) after the date of enactment of this Act.