The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have postponed a scheduled Jan. 23 public hearing on the new Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule in Kansas City, KS, as a result of the ongoing partial government shutdown, according to a news release posted to EPA’s website on Monday, Jan. 7.
In addition, EPA said in the news release that it also has postponed the publication of the proposed rule in the Federal Register until the shutdown has ended.
The newly proposed WOTUS rule is set for finalization in September. Depending on how long the shutdown continues and on whether an expected 60-day public comment period is extended at some point, the final rule may not be completed until the end of the year.
Under the proposal, there would be just six categories of jurisdictional waters. That includes traditional navigable waters, tributaries, certain ditches that are navigable or affected by tide, lakes and ponds, impoundments, and wetlands that abut or are connected to waters of the United States.
The proposal lists waters that would not be regulated. That includes certain land features where water is present only as a result of heavy rainfalls, groundwater, most ditches, prior-converted croplands, storm water and wastewater features. — Todd Neeley, DTN
