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<REGINFO_RIN_DATA xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" RUN_DATE="2026-07-09-04:00" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/xml/REGINFO_XML_Ver10262011.xsd">
    <RIN_INFO>
        <RIN>2040-AG44</RIN>
        <PUBLICATION>
            <PUBLICATION_ID>202510</PUBLICATION_ID>
            <PUBLICATION_TITLE>The Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions</PUBLICATION_TITLE>
        </PUBLICATION>
        <AGENCY>
            <CODE>2040</CODE>
            <NAME>Office of Water</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>OW</ACRONYM>
        </AGENCY>
        <PARENT_AGENCY>
            <CODE>2000</CODE>
            <NAME>Environmental Protection Agency</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>EPA</ACRONYM>
        </PARENT_AGENCY>
        <RULE_TITLE>Updated Definition of &quot;Waters of the United States&quot;</RULE_TITLE>
        <ABSTRACT><![CDATA[<!DOCTYPE html>
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<head>
</head>
<body>
<p>The EPA and the Department of the Army are undertaking a rulemaking to revise key topics of the waters of the United States definition considering the Supreme Court's decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, 598 U.S. 651 (2023), including continuous surface connection, relatively permanent, and jurisdictional versus non-jurisdictional ditches. These revisions focus on clarity, simplicity, and improvements that will stand the test of time.</p>
</body>
</html>]]></ABSTRACT>
        <PRIORITY_CATEGORY>Other Significant</PRIORITY_CATEGORY>
        <RIN_STATUS>Previously Published in The Unified Agenda</RIN_STATUS>
        <RULE_STAGE>Final Rule Stage</RULE_STAGE>
        <MAJOR>Undetermined</MAJOR>
        <UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
            <UNFUNDED_MANDATE>No</UNFUNDED_MANDATE>
        </UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
        <EO_13771_DESIGNATION>Deregulatory</EO_13771_DESIGNATION>
        <CFR_LIST>
            <CFR>40 CFR 120.2</CFR>
        </CFR_LIST>
        <LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
        </LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
        <LEGAL_DLINE_LIST/>
        <RPLAN_ENTRY>Yes</RPLAN_ENTRY>
        <RPLAN_INFO>
            <STMT_OF_NEED><![CDATA[<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
</head>
<body>
<p>The Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of the Army are undertaking a rulemaking to revise key topics of the waters of the United States definition&nbsp;considering the Supreme Courts decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, 598 U.S. 651 (2023), including continuous surface connection, relatively permanent, and jurisdictional versus non-jurisdictional ditches. These revisions focus on clarity, simplicity, and improvements that will stand the test of time. This action will streamline implementation of Clean Water Act programs by aligning the definition of waters of the United States with Sackett, which significantly narrowed the definition under the Clean Water Act.</p>
</body>
</html>]]></STMT_OF_NEED>
            <LEGAL_BASIS><![CDATA[<!DOCTYPE html>
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<head>
</head>
<body>
<p>The Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.).</p>
</body>
</html>]]></LEGAL_BASIS>
            <ALTERNATIVES><![CDATA[<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
</head>
<body>
<p>The EPA is evaluating alternatives for this action.</p>
</body>
</html>]]></ALTERNATIVES>
            <COSTS_AND_BENEFITS><![CDATA[<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
</head>
<body>
<p>The EPA is evaluating the anticipated costs and benefits of this action.</p>
</body>
</html>]]></COSTS_AND_BENEFITS>
            <RISKS><![CDATA[<!DOCTYPE html>
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<head>
</head>
<body>
<p>The EPA is evaluating the risks associated with this action.</p>
</body>
</html>]]></RISKS>
        </RPLAN_INFO>
        <TIMETABLE_LIST>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>NPRM</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>11/20/2025</TTBL_DATE>
                <FR_CITATION>90 FR 52498</FR_CITATION>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>Final Rule</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>07/00/2026</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
        </TIMETABLE_LIST>
        <RFA_REQUIRED>No</RFA_REQUIRED>
        <SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
            <SMALL_ENTITY>No</SMALL_ENTITY>
        </SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
        <GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
            <GOVT_LEVEL>Federal</GOVT_LEVEL>
            <GOVT_LEVEL>Local</GOVT_LEVEL>
            <GOVT_LEVEL>State</GOVT_LEVEL>
            <GOVT_LEVEL>Tribal</GOVT_LEVEL>
        </GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
        <FEDERALISM>Undetermined</FEDERALISM>
        <ENERGY_AFFECTED>No</ENERGY_AFFECTED>
        <PRINT_PAPER>No</PRINT_PAPER>
        <INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>No</INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>
        <RELATED_RIN_LIST>
            <RELATED_RIN>
                <RIN>2040-AG32</RIN>
                <RIN_RELATION>Related to</RIN_RELATION>
            </RELATED_RIN>
        </RELATED_RIN_LIST>
        <AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
            <CONTACT>
                <FIRST_NAME>Rose</FIRST_NAME>
                <LAST_NAME>Kwok</LAST_NAME>
                <AGENCY>
                    <CODE>2040</CODE>
                    <NAME>Office of Water</NAME>
                    <ACRONYM>OW</ACRONYM>
                </AGENCY>
                <PHONE>202 566-0657</PHONE>
                <EMAIL>kwok.rose@epa.gov</EMAIL>
                <MAILING_ADDRESS>
                    <STREET_ADDRESS>1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Mail Code 4504T,</STREET_ADDRESS>
                    <CITY>Washington</CITY>
                    <STATE>DC</STATE>
                    <ZIP>20460</ZIP>
                </MAILING_ADDRESS>
            </CONTACT>
        </AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
    </RIN_INFO>
</REGINFO_RIN_DATA>
