EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin Seeks to Limit Federal Clean Water Law's Scope on Wetlands
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin is leading efforts to redefine the scope of the federal clean water law, specifically aiming to reduce the wetlands protected under the 'waters of the United States' (WOTUS) definition. This initiative follows a 2023 Supreme Court ruling in Sackett v. EPA, which significantly limited federal authority over water pollution in certain wetlands. The proposed rule focuses on relatively permanent, standing, or continuously flowing bodies of water, such as streams, oceans, rivers, and lakes, along with wetlands directly connected to them. The EPA and Army Corps of Engineers have announced a Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to gather additional public input for 30 days once published in the Federal Register. Zeldin states that the EPA's goal is to establish a durable WOTUS definition that adheres to the law and reduces regulatory uncertainty, aiming to provide greater predictability for various stakeholders including landowners, farmers, ranchers, energy producers, and small...
