By Andrew H. PerellisRebecca A. Davis, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: The Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published their final rule this week, finally replacing the 2015 rule that “impermissibly expanded the definition of ‘waters of the United States’ (WOTUS)” under the Clean Water Act.  85 Fed. Reg.
Continue Reading Continuing Saga — EPA and Corps Publish Final Rule Defining “Waters of the United States”

By Andrew H. PerellisRebecca A. Davis, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: The Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its final rule this week to repeal the 2015 rule that “impermissibly expanded the definition of ‘waters of the United States’ (WOTUS)” under the Clean Water Act.  84 Fed. Reg.
Continue Reading Ongoing Saga — EPA & U.S. Army Repeal 2015 Rule Defining “Waters of the United States”

By Andrew H. PerellisPatrick D. Joyce, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Army (Corps) have recently proposed a “clear, understandable, and implementable definition of ‘waters of the United States’ [(WOTUS)] that clarifies federal authority under the Clean Water Act.”

Concerning the new draft proposed rule
Continue Reading EPA and Corps of Engineers Propose New “Waters of the United States” Definition

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, Patrick D. Joyce, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: Continuing the fight over the Obama-era Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., the National Wildlife Federation, and a host of states, including New York and California have brought lawsuits against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps)
Continue Reading States, NRDC, and NWF Sue EPA and Corps on Applicability Date Final Rule

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

Seyfarth Synopsis: The Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) finalized a rule moving the applicability date to the Obama-era Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule to February 6, 2020, two years in the future. 83 Fed. Reg. 5200 (Feb.
Continue Reading EPA and Corps Add Years to “Effective” Applicability Date of WOTUS Rule

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

Seyfarth Synopsis: The Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a rule that would add an applicability date two years in the future to the Obama-era Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. 82 Fed. Reg. 55542 (Nov. 22, 2017).
Continue Reading EPA and the Corps Propose to Add Years to “Effective” Applicability Date of WOTUS Rule

By Andrew H. Perellis and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: Pursuant to President Trump’s Executive Order (EO) on “Restoring the Rule of Law… by Reviewing the “Waters of the United States” Rule, the Agencies have scheduled ten teleconferences to collect stakeholder recommendations on the revision of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule.

We had previously
Continue Reading EPA and the Corps Schedule Ten “Public Meetings” to Solicit Comments on WOTUS Rule

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 Jeryl L. Olson

Urban PlannerSeyfarth Synopsis: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has just issued a Regulatory Guidance Letter which provides to property owners (including developers) the right of appeal USACE Approved Jurisdictional Determinations.

On November 1, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) issued a Regulatory Guidance Letter (No. 16-01, October 2016) (RGL) which provides to property
Continue Reading U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Issues Regulatory Guidance Letter on Approved Jurisdictional Determinations