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EPA/WATER RIN: 2040-AF30 Publication ID: Spring 2015 
Title: Clean Water Rule: Definition of "Waters of the United States" 
Abstract:

After U.S. Supreme Court decisions in SWANCC and Rapanos, the scope of "waters of the U.S." protected under all Clean Water Act (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. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposed a rule for determining whether a water is protected by the Clean Water Act. This rule will make clear which waterbodies are protected under the CWA.

 
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)  Priority: Other Significant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Final Rule Stage 
Major: No  Unfunded Mandates: No 
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 U.S.C. 1251 et seq. Clean Water Act   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
NPRM  04/21/2014  79 FR 22187   
NPRM Comment Period Extended  06/24/2014  79 FR 35712   
NPRM Comment Period Extended  10/14/2014  79 FR 61590   
Notice  10/24/2014  79 FR 63594   
Final Rule  05/00/2015 
Additional Information: Docket #:EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0880
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No  Government Levels Affected: None 
Small Entities Affected: No  Federalism: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
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

Rose Kwok
Environmental Protection Agency
Water
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Mail Code 4504T,
Washington, DC 20460
Phone:202 566-0657
Email: kwok.rose@epa.gov