EPA Proposes Pre-2015 WOTUS Definition

LINCOLN, Neb. (DTN) -- The Navigable Waters Protection Rule would be repealed and replaced with pre-2015 definitions of waters of the U.S. in a proposal released by EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Thursday.

It is the first step in eventually replacing the Trump-era rule with a new rule sometime next year.

Returning to the pre-2015 rule means a return to definitions expanded by EPA following the 2006 Supreme Court ruling in Rapanos v. U.S., including the so-called "significant nexus" determination that was a feature of the 2015 rule.

Significant nexus is establishing a scientific connection between smaller water bodies, such as tributaries, and larger, more traditional navigable waters such as rivers. This then makes the smaller water bodies jurisdictional and subject to the Clean Water Act.

Significant nexus determinations in the 2015 rule were a concern to farmers, ranchers and other landowners who feared the expansion of federal jurisdiction onto private lands.

The proposed pre-2015 rule mentions the term "significant nexus" 233 times. EPA said in the rule it heard concerns from stakeholders as part of listening sessions already held.

"Most stakeholders who provided input supported a clear, implementable rule that is easy for the public to understand, and the agencies received feedback that the significant nexus standard and typical year analysis were challenging to implement under prior regulatory regimes," the proposed rule said.

"The agencies are not proposing to exclude ephemeral streams but are instead proposing that ephemeral streams that meet the significant nexus standard be jurisdictional as tributaries."

The proposed temporary rule also could mean fewer prior-converted crop lands exempted compared to the Navigable Waters Protection Rule.

"The agencies anticipate that fewer waters would be excluded as prior converted crop land under the proposed rule's reinstatement of 1993 language, compared to under the NWPR," the EPA said in the new economic analysis.

"However, the agencies are unable to quantify the change. Not all prior converted crop land that has been officially designated by U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service has been mapped throughout the country. In addition, not all land that qualifies under the Food Security Act of 1985 as prior converted cropland has been officially designated as such."

Along with a release of the proposed repeal and replacement, the EPA released a 177-page economic analysis of the proposal that will be open for a 60-day public comment period once published in the Federal Register.

In September, EPA Administrator Michael Regan told state agriculture regulators future rules would maintain ag exemptions, including exclusion from jurisdiction for prior-converted crop lands.

The Clean Water Act also exempts discharges associated with normal farming, ranching and forestry activities, such as plowing, cultivating, minor drainage and harvesting for the production of food, fiber and forest products, or upland soil and water conservation practices.

"In recent years, the only constant with WOTUS has been change, creating a whiplash in how to best protect our waters in communities across America," Regan said in a news release Thursday.

"Through our engagement with stakeholders across the country, we've heard overwhelming calls for a durable definition of WOTUS that protects the environment, and that is grounded in the experience of those who steward our waters. Today's action advances our process toward a stronger rule that achieves our shared priorities."

MORE ON SIGNIFICANT NEXUS

In the Rapanos case, the court found WOTUS to be limited to navigable waters, or waters that directly contribute to navigable waters, as well as relatively permanent waters, standing water, or continuous bodies of water including wetlands.

Justice Anthony Kennedy was the deciding fifth vote in the case. In his opinion, he argued a nexus exists where a wetland or other waterbody, either by itself or in combination with other similar sites, significantly affects the physical, biological, and chemical integrity of the downstream navigable waterway.

That "significant nexus" opinion was the basis for the 2015 rule, as well.

From 2006 to 2015, the EPA and the Corps of Engineers created guidance that focused on Kennedy's opinion and generated confusion among the regulated community, including farmers and ranchers.

The Navigable Waters Protection Rule, on the other hand, was largely supported by farmers and ranchers because they say it clarified which waters are jurisdictional.

Following the vacating of the Trump rule by federal courts in Arizona and New Mexico, EPA said in a news release it already has been implementing the pre-2015 definitions nationwide since early September 2021.

In October, EPA announced plans for 10 virtual regional roundtables to seek public input on a new WOTUS rule. The agencies said in a public notice they anticipate the roundtables to be held in December and January.

However, Regan told state ag regulators the agency would propose a new WOTUS definition sometime this winter -- while the roundtables are scheduled to take place.

Read EPA's economic analysis here: https://www.epa.gov/….

Read the proposed rule here: https://www.epa.gov/….

Read more on DTN:

"Regan: Ag WOTUS Exemptions to Remain," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

"EPA to Schedule WOTUS Rewrite Hearings," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

"EPA Seeks Regional WOTUS Roundtables," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

Todd Neeley can be reached at todd.neeley@dtn.com

Follow him on Twitter @DTNeeley

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