AGA and WAC Aug. 10, 2021 Request for WOTUS Comment Deadline Extension
On August 10, 2021, AGA joined in a Waters Advocacy Coalition (WAC) request that EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers extend their deadline for submitting “pre-proposal feedback” and recommendations on how to define waters of the United States (WOTUS). The agencies’ August 4 notice allowed only 30 days for comments to be filed by Sept. 3, 2021. WAC requested a 60-day extension of the 30-day comment period to provide written recommendations on their perspectives on defining WOTUS and how to implement the definition as the agencies pursue future rulemaking proceedings. EPA Administrator Regan and other senior EPA and Army officials have committed publicly and before Congress to robust stakeholder engagement as they undertake this rulemaking process. The scope of jurisdiction under the CWA is of fundamental importance not only to the WAC participating organizations, but also to the Nation. Given the significance of this issue, the public should be permitted more than 30 days to analyze and develop recommendations on the broad range of topics that the Agencies are seeking feedback on.