Navigable Waters Protection Rule Pre-Proposal Outreach Meetings
EPA and the U.S. Department of the Army (the agencies) held ten teleconferences to hear from stakeholders their recommendations to revise the definition of “Waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act (CWA). One of the teleconferences was open to the general public at large. Nine of the teleconferences were tailored to a specific sector, i.e.:
- agriculture (row crop, livestock, silviculture);
- conservation (hunters and anglers);
- small entities (small businesses, small organizations, small jurisdictions);
- construction and transportation; environment and public advocacy (including health and environmental justice);
- mining;
- industry (energy, chemical, oil/gas);
- scientific organizations and academia; and
- stormwater, wastewater management, and drinking water agencies.
The teleconferences ran throughout the fall on Tuesdays from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern Time, beginning on September 19, 2017. In addition, the agencies held an in-person meeting with small entities on October 23, 2017 from 9:00 am – 11:00 am Eastern Time.
- Read the Federal Register notice - "Definition of 'Waters of the United States' - Schedule of Public Meetings"
- View the agencies' presentations from past listening session
Schedule of Public Meetings
The teleconferences, as scheduled below, are intended to solicit recommendations for the Step 2 rulemaking to define “waters of the United States.” During the teleconferences, EPA provided brief background information on the Step 2 rulemaking and progress to date. Stakeholders had the opportunity to provide input, particularly with regard to the charge in the Executive Order. EPA has posted all presentations for the teleconferences.
Persons or organizations wishing to provide verbal recommendations during the teleconference were selected on a first-come, first-serve basis. Due to the expected volume of participants, individuals were asked to limit their oral presentation to three minutes. The agencies also encouraged stakeholders to submit supporting materials and written feedback to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2017-0480. The agencies will not be formally responding to verbal or written recommendations.
Small Entities (small businesses, small organizations, small governmental jurisdictions)
Environment and Public Advocacy (including health, environmental justice)
Conservation (hunters, anglers)
Construction and Transportation
Agriculture (row crop, livestock, silviculture)
Industry (energy, chemical, oil/gas)
Mining
Scientific Organizations and Academia
Stormwater, Wastewater Management, and Drinking Water Agencies
General Public
Small Entities In-Person Meeting
Submitting Recommendations
EPA established a docket, Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2017-0480, to be included in the administrative record of the regulation revising the definition of "Waters of the United States" under the Clean Water Act. The docket closed on November 28, 2017. Written recommendations can be found here on the docket. Please note that this docket is separate from the docket for the Step 1 proposed rulemaking to re-codify the pre-existing regulations, which closed on September 27, 2017. Click here for information on the Step 1 rulemaking.