Lisa M. Bruderly of Babst Calland Clements & Zomnir Water Law Update: Five Regulatory Changes to Watch in 2021
State and federal water law permitting can pose significant obstacles for energy infrastructure construction projects that impact waterbodies (e.g., wells pads, access roads, natural gas/oil pipelines). The following five new and proposed regulatory changes are likely to significantly affect project design and construction in Pennsylvania.
May 20, 2021 at 10:55 AM
6 minute read
State and federal water law permitting can pose significant obstacles for energy infrastructure construction projects that impact waterbodies (e.g., wells pads, access roads, natural gas/oil pipelines). The following five new and proposed regulatory changes are likely to significantly affect project design and construction in Pennsylvania.
- Waters of the United States (WOTUS)
The definition of WOTUS identifies which waters are federally regulated under the Clean Water Act (CWA), and, therefore, determines when a federal permit is required for projects that involve dredging or filling of a waterbody (i.e., a Section 404 permit). The current WOTUS definition was promulgated in 2020 under the Trump administration. It has been criticized by environmental groups as federally regulating fewer types of waterbodies than the WOTUS definition promulgated under the Obama administration. For example, ephemeral streams are not regulated under the current WOTUS definition.
President Joseph R. Biden Jr. has asked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps) and the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to consider revising or rescinding the current definition. He has also asked courts to stay judicial challenges to the current WOTUS definition while his administration reconsiders the issue.
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