Introduction:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ proposed Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule seeks to clarify the definition of waters subject to the regulatory scope of the Clean Water Act. Clarity is sought due to Supreme Court rulings in 2001 and 2006 that have created a significant amount of confusion regarding how WOTUS bounds are defined. The proposed rule would replace 2003, 2008, and 2011 (draft) guidance documents.
Opinions vary widely on the impacts of the proposed WOTUS rule. According to EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the rule would subject approximately 3% more U.S. waters to Clean Water Act jurisdiction; however, results from analyses performed by other groups differ with the results from the EPA study.
Considering the many potential areas of intersection between stormwater infrastructure and Waters of the U.S., there is a need to take a closer look at various aspects of this issue. This webcast brings together a variety of stakeholders from across the stormwater sector and the country to share their views on critical issues related to the WOTUS rulemaking proposal. These issues range from the definition of tributaries, how roadside ditches may be addressed, and stormwater control measures and BMP exemptions as they relate to MS4 systems. The current comment period, open until November 14, provides a rare opportunity for professionals to provide input on a major rulemaking. This event will help attendees learn about the stormwater issues that intersect with the WOTUS rulemaking. This webcast will also include information about an upcoming report from the EPA Local Government Advisory Committee on the WOTUS rulemaking, with recommendations related to stormwater infrastructure.
Speakers:
- Ken Kopocis, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Office of Water, EPA
- Randy Neprash, Minnesota Cities Stormwater Coalition & Stantec Consulting
- Scott Taylor, California Stormwater Quality Association & Michael Baker International
- Barry Fagan, Environmental Program Engineer, ALDOT
- Kevin Shafer, Executive Director of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District
- Sue Hann, City Manager, City of Palm Bay, FL
- Seth Brown, WEF (Moderator)
Registration Information:
This webcast is being offered at no charge. Please register through GoToWebinar.
There will be 2.0 Professional Development Hours (PDHs) offered for this webcast. Please check with your state accreditation agency to determine if you qualify. Log-on information will be emailed to you 24 hours prior to the webcast. Included in this email will be information regarding attendance verification, PDH distribution, and procedures to follow during the live event.
Questions about this webcast should be sent to webcasts@wef.org.
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