The American Petroleum Institute (API) recently welcomed the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new clean-water rule that brings clarity and certainty for federal and state authorities, local farmers, builders, manufacturers and other small business owners while protecting the environment.
API Senior Vice President of Policy, Economics and Regulatory Affairs Frank Macchiarola said: “Clear, easily implemented and legally sound permitting regulations help regulators, landowners and property developers from all industries make sound resource allocation decisions that protect the environment while facilitating economic growth […] API applauds the efforts that the EPA and the Corps of Engineers made to incorporate the feedback received from all stakeholders during the pre-rule outreach period and the proposed rule comment period. Today’s rule safeguards US waters while respecting the critical role the states play in environmental protection under cooperative federalism.”
A clear definition of Waters of the United States (WOTUS) allows both the federal and state governments to allocate limited resources more effectively toward the environmental protection of those waters appropriately under their jurisdiction and protection. From a permitting perspective, additional clarity allows landowners to make more educated decisions about their property and will likely reduce the number of jurisdictional determinations submitted to the Army Corps – a major source of delay under the current permitting system. When landowners, regulated entities and regulators themselves can readily discern the entity with jurisdiction over a waterbody, they can readily take appropriate actions to make sure that the necessary permits are in place.
Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/the-environment/27012020/api-welcomes-new-clean-water-rule/
