November 18, 2025
Mr. Huffman (for himself, Mr. Beyer, Ms. Castor of Florida, Ms. Jayapal, Ms. Schakowsky, Ms. Tlaib, Mr. Pocan, Mr. Vargas, Ms. Norton, Mr. Smith of Washington, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Thanedar, Mr. Morelle, Mr. DeSaulnier, Mr. Casten, Mr. Carson, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Sherman, Ms. Simon, Ms. Clarke of New York, and Ms. DeGette) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study with respect to stormwater runoff from oil and gas operations, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Focused Reduction of Effluence and Stormwater runoff through Hydrofracking Environmental Regulation Act of 2025
or the FRESHER Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Stormwater runoff from oil, gas, and mining operations
(a) Limitation on permit requirement
Section 402(l) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1342) is amended by striking paragraph (2) and redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2).
(b) Definitions
Section 502 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1362) is amended—
(1)
by striking paragraph (24); and
(2)
by redesignating paragraphs (25) through (27) as paragraphs (24) through (26), respectively.
(c) Study
(1) In general
The Secretary of the Interior shall conduct a study of stormwater impacts with respect to any area that the Secretary determines may be contaminated by stormwater runoff associated with oil or gas operations, which shall include—
(A)
an analysis of measurable contamination in such area;
(B)
an analysis of ground water resources in such area; and
(C)
an analysis of the susceptibility of aquifers in such area to contamination from stormwater runoff associated with such operations.
(2) Report
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1).