NACD Statement on Repeal of EPA’s WOTUS Rule

Today, the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) issued the following statement regarding the decision of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to finalize the repeal of the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule under the Clean Water Act.

“Since the WOTUS rule was proposed in 2014, NACD has been working continuously to advocate for its reversal,” NACD President Tim Palmer said. “Yesterday’s announcement is a positive step forward for locally-led conservation and brings a greater level of certainty for producers and landowners who are stewards of our land and water.”

The full repeal of the 2015 rule brings all 50 states back under regulations that have been in effect since the 1980s.

“For more than 75 years, conservation districts have been leaders in locally-led efforts to ensure a clean and sustainable water supply for the nation,” Palmer said. “The nation’s nearly 3,000 conservation districts and the landowners they work with are the best equipped to handle local decision-making, and we applaud the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers for reversing the 2015 rule.”

 

 

The EPA and Army Corps of Engineers will continue to work toward finalizing a revised definition of WOTUS published in the Federal Register in December 2018. EPA leaders expect to finalize the revised definition by the end of the year.

“We look forward to continue working with the administration to empower locally-led decision-making and protect our nation’s natural resources for the future,” Palmer said.

To learn more about the revised definition, view NACD’s April 2019 public comments on WOTUS.