On Nov. 17, the EPA and the United State Army Corps of Engineers signed a proposed rule to revise the definition of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS). This proposed rule implements the Supreme Court’s decision in Sackett vs. EPA.

GCSAA’s Director of Congressional and Federal Affairs Bob Helland was on hand during the public announcement at EPA headquarters to hear more about how the EPA seeks to clearly define terms such as “relatively permanent,” “continuous surface connection,” and “tributary,” tightening the scope of federal jurisdiction of surface waters under the Clean Water Act. 

The GCSAA government affairs department is reviewing the pre-publication notice now and will lead the golf industry in developing a response to the proposal when it is formally submitted for publication in the Federal Register. GCSAA has weighed in with public written comment and public testimony on proposed WOTUS definitions during the Obama, Trump (first term) and Biden Administrations.

Once published in the Federal Register, the proposal will undergo a 45-day public comment period, with two public meetings planned as EPA works “expeditiously” to finalize the rule.

You can visit the EPA website to read the pre-publication version of the proposed rule and review some fact sheets. Reach out to Bob Helland for more information.