FLA Praises Proposed EPA, Army Rule on WOTUS
WASHINGTON, DC — The Forest Landowners Association (FLA) praised the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Army for issuing their proposed rule clarifying the definition of Waters of the United States and fully implementing the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency.
The proposed rule aligns federal regulations with the Supreme Court’s ruling, which affirmed that federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act must be limited to waters with a continuous surface connection to navigable waters. This approach provides a clearer boundary for landowners and prevents the uncertainty and overly broad interpretations that have challenged rural stakeholders for years.
FLA CEO Scott Jones said the agencies “deserve real credit for listening to rural stakeholders and delivering a clear and consistent path forward.”
“In the face of multiple crises, from natural disasters to ongoing market uncertainty, America’s forest landowners need regulatory clarity more than ever,” Jones said. “By grounding this proposal in the Sackett decision, the agencies are providing much-needed certainty for landowners who make generational investments in working forests and take pride in being responsible stewards.”
Craig Anderson, FLA’s Vice President of Government Affairs, added:
“This proposal is a meaningful step toward restoring trust and predictability for rural America. By ensuring the definition of federal waters is consistent with the Sackett ruling, EPA and the Department of the Army are giving forest landowners the clarity they need to manage healthy forests and support the communities that depend on them.”
More information on the proposed rule is available at https://www.epa.gov/wotus