Several significant bills that would benefit stormwater infrastructure investments and management are moving through the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. More concern by Congress to avoid overburdening ratepayers about community challenges to meet water infrastructure investments has led to growing support for integrated planning. Stormwater investment in particular can be hampered by limited […]
According to a March 21 memorandum, federal funding for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will decrease by 31% if Congress approves the President’s Budget for 2018 fiscal year. The decrease would cut funding for several voluntary and region-specific EPA programs to refocus the agency toward its “core statutory responsibilities,” the memo states. David Bloom, […]
On Dec. 10, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) announced rules for developing a voluntary water quality trading program to facilitate pollution reduction and protect the quality of state waterways. The rulemaking addresses essential elements of DEQ’s water quality trading program, with appropriate standards for accountability, enforceability, and provisions to ensure transparency. A lack […]
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers made public a national database of approved jurisdictional determinations. The determinations apply to the Clean Water Act section 404 program, which regulates the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States. Measures to improve the section 404 program […]
On Oct. 9, following an injunction blocking the enforcement of the Clean Water Rule in 13 states, the Sixth Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals issued a nationwide stay on the rule. Finalized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in June, the Clean Water Rule is intended to […]
On Aug. 28, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army’s Clean Water Rule went into effect in 37 states. The rule is intended to clarify which waters fall under the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act. However, a preliminary injunction by the U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota blocked implementation of […]
On May 27, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army announced the Clean Water Rule, which is intended to clarify the scope of the Clean Water Act in determining jurisdictional waters. The Clean Water Rule generally maintains the current status of municipal separate storm sewer systems and encourages the use of green […]
On May 27, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army finalized the Clean Water Rule, which will be effective 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. According to EPA and the Army, the rule ensures that waters protected under the Clean Water Act are more precisely defined and predictably determined, making […]
Geographically isolated wetlands play a large role in providing clean water and other environmental benefits even though they may lack the regulatory protections of other wetlands, according to an article by Indiana University (IU) researchers and colleagues. Citing research literature, the article, “Geographically Isolated Wetlands Are Important Biogeochemical Reactors on the Landscape,” says geographically isolated […]
On February 4, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy testified at a Joint Senate and House hearing, defending the agencies’ jointly proposed “Waters of the United States” rule. The agencies’ rulemaking attempts to clarify uncertainty over the Clean Water Act’s reach following […]
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