1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Water Quality Certification Improvement Act of 2018 . 2. Certification Section 401 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1341 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (1)— (i) in the first sentence— (I) by inserting by the applicant after any discharge ; and (II) by inserting as a result of the federally licensed or permitted activity after into the navigable waters ; (ii) in the second sentence, by striking activity and inserting discharge ; (iii) in the third sentence, by striking applications each place it appears and inserting requests ; (iv) in the fifth sentence, by striking act on and inserting grant or deny ; and (v) by inserting after the fourth sentence the following: The certifying State, interstate agency, or Administrator shall publish the requirements for certification that meet the applicable provisions of sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307. The decision to grant or deny a request shall be based only on the applicable provisions of sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307 and the grounds for a decision shall be set forth in writing to the applicant. ; (B) in paragraph (2)— (i) in the second sentence— (I) by striking such a discharge and inserting a discharge made into the navigable waters by the applicant as described in paragraph (1) ; (II) by inserting receipt of the before notice ; and (III) by striking of application for such Federal license or permit and inserting under the preceding sentence ; (ii) in the third sentence— (I) by striking such discharge and inserting any discharge made into the navigable waters by the applicant as described in paragraph (1) ; and (II) by striking any water quality requirement and inserting the applicable provisions of sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307