EPA, Army announce final rule defining “Waters of the US”

Just ahead of the new year the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the United States Department of the Army jointly announced a final rule establishing a durable definition of “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) that rolls back the Trump-era rule.

“This final rule recognizes the essential role of the nation’s water resources in communities across the nation,” said Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Michael L. Connor. “The rule’s clear and supportable definition of waters of the United States will allow for more efficient and effective implementation and provide the clarity long desired by farmers, industry, environmental organizations, and other stakeholders.”

According to the EPA, their final rule restores essential water protections that were in place prior to 2015 and establishes a durable definition of “waters of the United States” that is grounded in the authority provided by Congress in the Clean Water Act.

More information, including a pre-publication version of the Federal Register notice and fact sheets, is available at EPA’s “Waters of the United States” website.