1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Water Quality Certification and Energy Project Improvement Act of 2023 . 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, by striking may result and inserting may directly result ; (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: Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of the Water Quality Certification and Energy Project Improvement Act of 2023 , each State and interstate agency that has authority to give such a certification, and the Administrator, shall publish requirements for certification to demonstrate to such State, such interstate agency, or the Administrator, as the case may be, compliance with the applicable provisions of sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307. A decision to grant or deny a request for certification shall be based only on the applicable provisions of sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307, and the grounds for the decision shall be set forth in writing and provided to the applicant. Not later than 90 days after receipt of a request for certification, the State, interstate agency, or Administrator, as the case may be, shall identify in writing all specific additional materials or information that are necessary to grant or deny the request. ; (B) in paragraph (2)— (i) in the second sentence, by striking notice of application for such Federal license or permit and inserting receipt of a notice under the preceding sentence ; (ii) in the third sentence, by striking any water quality requirement and inserting any applicable provision of section 301, 302, 303, 306, or 307