EPA and Army Repeal 2015 WOTUS Rule
On September 12th, EPA and the U.S. Army repealed the 2015 Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule that expanded the reach of the Clean Water Act (CWA). This repeal effectively reinstates the regulatory text that existed prior to the 2015 Rule in an effort to reestablish national consistency across the country for all jurisdictions. This action was part of Trump Administration’s campaign pledge and was the first step in a two-step process to narrow the definition of WOTUS and provide greater regulatory certainty. Step two was previously started in December 2018, when EPA and the U.S. Army proposed a new definition that clarifies the federal and state authorities and helps landowners better understand whether a project on their property will require a CWA permit. For more information, go to: http://www.epa.gov/wotus-rule.
