Wading Into the "Waters of the United States"
Abstract
The Trump Administration recently unveiled a proposed rule that would redefine the jurisdictional reach of the Clean Water Act. The principal federal law restricting pollution of the nations surface waters, the Clean Water Act prohibits discharging certain pollutants into the waters of the United States, including the territorial seas without a permit. But what constitutes waters of the United Statesor WOTUShas been the subject of political debate and litigation for more than four decades. The Trump Administrations proposed regulations are intended to provide clarity on what waters and wetlands the Clean Water Act governs, but observers expect legal challenges once the rule is finalized. While the regulations are in proposed form, a string of court decisions related to previous WOTUS interpretations have created a fragmented legal landscape in which waters of the United States means different things in different parts of the nation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 28, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1170101
Entities
People
- Stephen P. Mulligan
Organizations
- Library of Congress