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ACWA Comments On Revised Definition of “Waters of the United States”

Posted:

As the agencies proceed with this process to revise WOTUS and work to create a durable rule the states remind the agencies of several foundational principles that must be adhered to. (1) respect the role of the states as co-regulators and provide early, continuous, and meaningful opportunities for dialogue and input as any new rule is developed; (2) respect and follow the science though balanced within the limitations of statute and judicial precedent; (3) recognize the geographic, geologic, climatic, hydrologic, and leadership diversity among states and craft a definition that provides clarity but also flexibility for state implementers; (4) prepare to provide the states, well in advance, with technical assistance, tools, and trainings to assist with implementation of any revised definition; and (5) consider a delayed effective date dependent on the significance and scope of the final rule to give state partners adequate time to revise state regulations and/or to develop new state policy to cover any changes in coverage as a result of the revised jurisdictional definition.

State Associations Letter on 106 Funding

Posted:

The Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA), the Association of Clean Water Administrators (ACWA), the Environmental Council of the States (ECOS), and the Western States Water Council (WSWC), which represent State environmental agencies and programs, strongly support increased funding for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure that protects public health and the environment. However, in order to successfully implement the goals of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, state environmental programs need increased resources to administer their programs and support new infrastructure investments.

ACWA Pre-Proposal WOTUS Comments

Posted:

The states offer the following high-level recommendations to guide the agencies’ process of revising the definition of “waters of the United States” (hereinafter “WOTUS”),: (1) respect the role of the states as co-regulators and provide early, continuous, and meaningful opportunities for dialogue and input as any new rule is developed; (2) respect and follow the science; (3) recognize the geographic, geologic, climatic, hydrologic and leadership diversity among states and craft a definition that provides clarity but also flexibility for state implementers; (4) prepare to provide the states, well in advance, with technical assistance, tools and trainings to assist with implementation of any revised definition; and (5) include a delayed effective date to give state partners ample time to revise state regulations and/or to develop new state policy to cover any changes in coverage as a result of the revised jurisdictional definition.

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