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EPA seeks WOTUS extension

The Environmental Protection Agency wants to extend the effective date of the Waters Of The United States (WOTUS) rule by two years to prevent enforcement while the agency rewrites it.

District 7 EPA Administrator Jim Gulliford tells Brownfield a new WOTUS rule is being drafted.  “In the near future, we’ll see an announcement of a rule that will hopefully rebalance the relationship of these federal agencies with the agricultural community.”

Gulliford isn’t sure how long rewriting the WOTUS rule will take.  “I don’t know what the timing will be.  Rules don’t happen fast at headquarter or in Washington D.C. but I now that it’s a priority of the Administrator to get that settled and bring some level of certainty back to our farmers and ranchers across the country.”

Gulliford tells Brownfield the agency has taken input from the public and sought a transparent process, unlike what happened under the previous administration.

WOTUS, as written, is being challenged in the U.S. Supreme Court and 13 other courts nationwide.

Along with rewriting the rule, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt also issued a statement saying the two-year delay will minimize confusion as the agency works to revise the definition of the waters of the U.S.