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EPA/WATER RIN: 2040-AF30 Publication ID: Spring 2014 
Title: Definition of "Waters of the United States" Under the Clean Water Act 
Abstract: After U.S. Supreme Court decisions in SWANCC and Rapanos, the scope of "waters of the US" protected under all CWA programs has been an issue of considerable debate and uncertainty. The Act has a single definition for "waters of the United States." As a result, these decisions affect the geographic scope of all CWA programs. SWANCC and Rapanos did not invalidate the current regulatory definition of "waters of the United States." However, the decisions established important considerations for how those regulations should be interpreted, and experience implementing the regulations has identified several areas that could benefit from additional clarification through rulemaking. U.S. EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are developing a proposed rule for determining whether a water is protected by the Clean Water Act. This rule would make clear which waterbodies are protected under the Clean Water Act. 
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)  Priority: Economically Significant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Proposed Rule Stage 
Major: Yes  Unfunded Mandates: Private Sector 
CFR Citation: 40 CFR 110    40 CFR 112    40 CFR 116    40 CFR 117    40 CFR 122    40 CFR 230    40 CFR 232    40 CFR 300    40 CFR 302    40 CFR 401    33 CFR 328   
Legal Authority: 33 USC 1251   
Legal Deadline:
Action Source Description Date
None       
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
NPRM  04/21/2014  79 FR 22187   
NPRM Comment Period End  07/21/2014 
Final Rule  04/00/2015 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Undetermined  Government Levels Affected: Undetermined 
Small Entities Affected: Undetermined  Federalism: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: Yes 
RIN Information URL: http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/guidance/wetlands/CWAwaters.cfm  
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No 
Agency Contact:
Donna Downing
Environmental Protection Agency
Water
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Mail Code 4502T,
Washington, DC 20460
Phone:202 566-2428
Email: cwawotus@epa.gov

Rachel Fertik
Environmental Protection Agency
Water
4502T,
Washington, DC 20460
Phone:202 566-1452
Email: cwawaters@epa.gov