By Jeryl L. OlsonPatrick D. Joyce, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: Last week before his departure USEPA Administrator Pruitt notified the regulated community that he had directed the Agency to update regulations governing the Agency’s use of Section 404(c) veto power in permitting discharges of dredged or fill materials under Section 404 of the Clean
Continue Reading USEPA Administrator Pruitt Issues Memo to Update Agency Use of Clean Water Act Section 404(c) Veto Power

By Andrew H. Perellis, Kay R. Bonza, and Craig B. Simonsen

EPA SignSeyfarth Synopsis: The EPA and Army Corps of Engineers have proposed to rescind the 2015 Clean Water Rule defining “Waters of the U.S.,” and recodify the pre-existing rule, then engage in a subsequent rulemaking to re-evaluate and revise the definition of WOTUS presumably intended to decrease
Continue Reading EPA and Army Corps of Engineers Propose to Rescind Obama Era Rule Redefining “Waters of the United States”

By Andrew H. Perellis, Patrick D. Joyce, and Craig B. Simonsen

US Supreme Court Capitol Hill Daytime Washington DCSeyfarth Synopsis: The Supreme Court decided that Army Corps’ jurisdictional determinations are judicially reviewable. This decision leaves open the question of whether other types of administrative decisions are immediately judicially reviewable.

In a significant victory for owners of private property, the Supreme Court of the United
Continue Reading Supreme Court Sides with Property Owners: Jurisdictional Determination is Reviewable

Supreme CourtSeyfarth Partner Andrew H. Perellis is quoted in this Law360 expert analysis, High Court Water Case Could Put Target On Agencies’ Backs (March 29, 2016).

The pending Supreme Court case, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers v. Hawkes Co. Inc. et al., no. 15-290, involves what constitutes a final agency action reviewable under the Administrative Procedure Act. We had previously
Continue Reading Is the Corps’ Determination on Jurisdiction Over a Wetland Judicially Reviewable?

By Andrew H. Perellis, Patrick D. Joyce, and Craig B. Simonsen

Supreme CourtThe Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) agreed on Friday to review an important Clean Water Act (CWA) decision issued by the Eighth Circuit in Hawkes Co., Inc., et al. v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, No. 13-3067 (April 10, 2015).

The issue presented for
Continue Reading Supreme Court to Decide if Army Corps Initial Jurisdictional Determination to Regulate Wetlands Under CWA is Ripe for Judicial Review

By Patrick D. Joyce, Philip L. Comella, and Craig B. Simonsen

iStock_000021343324_MediumThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency last week finalized its rule to “modernize” Clean Water Act (CWA) regulatory reporting requirements for municipalities, industries, and other facilities.

According to the Agency’s news release the final rule will require regulated entities and state and federal regulators to “use existing, available information
Continue Reading EPA Releases Final Clean Water Act Electronic Reporting Rule

By Jeryl L. Olson, Andrew H. Perellis and Patrick D. Joyce

The EPA and Army Corps of Engineers recently released its Final Clean Water Rule: Definition of “Waters of the United States.”

We had previously blogged about the Agency’s draft of the proposed rule that was distributed in November, 2013 as well as a “clarification” of the proposed rule
Continue Reading EPA Publishes Final Rule Expanding Definition of “Waters of the United States” Under the Clean Water Act

For our readers with California facilities and interests, Patrick D. Joyce has prepared a Management Alert on California’s new Industrial Stormwater Permit (2014 General Permit), which will apply on and after July 1, 2015. Industrial General Permit, 2014-0057-DWQ.

The California State Water Resources Control Board’s newly adopted industrial stormwater permit regime includes a broader array of industrial facilities not
Continue Reading California Industry: Start Preparing for New Industrial Stormwater Permit Requirements

By Jeryl L. Olson, Philip L. Comella, and Craig B. Simonsen

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed that construction companies use best management practices in lieu of measuring numeric turbidity limits to address stormwater runoff and to prevent erosion at construction sites. The significance of this proposed change is that it replaces testing requirements with management practices.

In
Continue Reading EPA Proposes Stormwater Runoff Rule for Construction Sites

By Philip L. Comella and Craig B. Simonsen

The Supreme Court held today in Los Angeles County Flood Control Dist. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., No. 11-460 (January 8, 2013), that the flow of water from an improved portion of a navigable waterway into an unimproved portion of the same waterway does not qualify as a “discharge of
Continue Reading NPDES Permit Not Required For Discharges to Different Parts of Same Waterway