Search

Army and EPA to Review Waters of the US Rule

Posted on 3/6/2017 by Roger Marks

In response to the Presidential directive issued last month, the US EPA and the Army announced today their intention to review and rescind or revise the 2015 Waters of the United States Rule.

The challenge to the rule is based largely on the interpretation of a key phrase within the Clean Water Act (CWA): “navigable waters.” When finalized, the Waters of the United States Rule, or WOTUS Rule, expanded the scope of waters that are considered “navigable” and therefore subject to certain requirements of the CWA. 

Water pollution in United StatesEPA’s interpretation of “navigable waters” drew from Supreme Court decisions, including Rapanos vs. United States. The President has ordered that EPA reconsider its interpretation of what constitutes a “navigable water” using stricter criteria set forth in an opinion written by late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia on the Rapanos case. 

To read more about the interpretations and Supreme Court decisions surrounding the Waters of the US Rule, read the post POTUS Puts WOTUS on Notice from last week.


New Clean Water Act Training - Online 24/7


New for 2017! The Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act Regulations Online Course i will help you build a full understanding of the EPA’s major water regulations and how they affect your operations.

Major topics covered in the new online course include:
  • NPDES permit and control requirements  
  • SPCC plan basics and EPA reporting obligations
  • US EPA pretreatment standards
  • EPA’s Underground Injection Control (UIC) program
  • Water quality standards for public systems and MCLs

More courses for EHS Managers:

Clean Air Act Regulations Online
TSCA Regulations Online
Clean Water Act & SDWA Regulations Online
New! Superfund and Right-to-Know Act Regulations Online 

Tags: Act, Clean, EPA, new rules, Water, WOTUS

Find a Post

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

Attending Lion Technology classes should be mandatory for every facility that ships or stores hazmat.

Genell Drake

Outbound Lead

You blew the doors off the competition!

Stephen Bieschke

Facilities Manager

These are the best classes I attend each year. I always take something away and implement improvements at my sites.

Kim Racine

EH&S Manager

Well designed and thorough program. Excellent summary of requirements with references. Inclusion of regulations in hard copy form, as well as full electronic with state pertinent regulations included is a great bonus!

Oscar Fisher

EHS Manager

I attended training from another provider and learned absolutely nothing. Lion is much better. Hands down.

Nicole Eby

Environmental Specialist

I like the consistency of Lion workshops. The materials are well put together and instructors are top notch!

Kevin Pylka

Permitting, Compliance & Environmental Manager

Best instructor ever! I was going to take my DOT training w/a different provider, but based on this presentation, I will also be doing my DOT training w/Lion!

Donna Moot

Hazardous Waste Professional

Lion provided an excellent introduction to environmental regulations, making the transition to a new career as an EHS specialist less daunting of a task. Drinking from a fire hose when the flow of water is lessened, is much more enjoyable!

Stephanie Weathers

SHE Specialist

I can take what I learned in this workshop and apply it to everyday work and relate it to my activities.

Shane Hersh

Materials Handler

I can't say enough how pleased I was with this course! Everything finally makes sense.

Kim Graham

Lab Manager

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

Shipping papers are a crucial part of safely shipping hazardous materials. See the top 5 mistakes shippers make on shipping papers, and how to avoid them.

Latest Whitepaper

By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive recurring marketing and training text messages. Consent to receive text messages is not required for any purchases. Text STOP at any time to cancel. Message and data rates may apply. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.