CLEAN–UP Act
Sponsored By: Representative Pou, Nellie [D-NJ-9]
Introduced
Summary
Authorizes the Army to lead contaminated-sediment cleanups under EPA-approved joint plans and provides limited CERCLA liability protections for partners. This bill would let the Secretary of the Army carry out water resources projects that remove or remediate contaminated sediment when done under a joint remediation plan coordinated with a non-Federal partner and approved by the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator.
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- Communities near polluted waterways would get planned cleanups that must protect human health and the environment and include an opportunity for public comment.
- States, local governments, and other non-Federal partners would share roles, funding, and responsibilities and could receive liability protections for releases caused by covered activities done under an EPA-approved joint plan.
- The Secretary would have to document hazardous substances, identify potentially responsible parties, and include disposal methods, roles, funding sources, and relevant National Contingency Plan requirements in the joint plan.
- The federal government would still be able to pursue cost recovery from responsible parties under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act for response costs it incurs.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
New rules for sediment cleanup projects
If enacted, the bill would authorize the Army to carry out contaminated‑sediment cleanup projects under a joint remediation plan approved by the EPA Administrator. The joint plan would have to protect human health and the environment and include relevant National Contingency Plan requirements. Plans would describe the cleanup work, the dredged material disposal method, roles and responsibilities, funding sources, and any other EPA‑required terms. The Secretary would have to consult federal, state, and local officials and provide an opportunity for public comment. Before starting work, the Secretary would document hazardous substances or pollutants in the sediment and try to identify any potentially responsible parties. The bill would say the Secretary is not liable under CERCLA for releases caused by covered activities carried out under an approved joint plan. It would not stop the Federal Government from seeking to recover cleanup costs from responsible parties.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Pou, Nellie [D-NJ-9]
NJ • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11]
NY • R
Sponsored 1/27/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov