Environment
NAHB Actively Engaged in WOTUS Rulemaking, Calls for More Transparency
The Biden administration’s process for withdrawing the Trump administration’s “waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS) definition under the Clean Water Act and replace it with a another WOTUS definition has broad ramifications affecting land developers, home builders and countless other small businesses.
SBA to Host Roundtable Discussion with EPA, Corps on WOTUS Changes
The SBA is hosting a virtual roundtable meeting with staff from the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to discuss the Biden administration’s proposed rule to withdraw the Trump administration’s “waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS) definition.
Working in Tandem with NAHB, Lawmakers Send a Strong Message to Commerce Secretary on Lumber Duties
At the behest of NAHB, 84 members of Congress this week sent a joint letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo expressing urgent concern regarding the Commerce Department’s recent decision to double tariffs on softwood lumber products from Canada and calling on the United States to resume talks with Canada to negotiate a new softwood lumber trade agreement.
Federal Register Publishes Proposed WOTUS Rule
The Federal Register today published a proposed rule by the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to rescind the definition of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) as finalized during the Trump administration.
Corps of Engineers Suspends Issuance of All New Federal Nationwide Wetlands Permits
For the second time in just 60 days, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps) has suspended the issuance of any new Section 404 nationwide wetlands permits (NWPs) as a result of a court ruling on Oct. 21 by the Northern District of California vacating the Trump administration’s changes to the Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 401 Certification Rule. However, builders and developers can still use existing NWP permits.
Financial Stability Oversight Council Releases Report on Climate-Related Financial Risk
The report includes more than 30 specific recommendations to U.S. financial regulators, and lays out necessary actions to identify and address climate-related risks to the U.S. financial system, which include warming temperatures, rising sea levels, droughts, wildfires, intensifying storms and other climate-related events that are already imposing significant costs on the public and U.S. economy.
Your Chance to Engage in the WOTUS Rulemaking
Individual builders and state and local home builders associations interested in participating in 10 regional roundtables hosted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that focus on future changes to the “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule should contact NAHB by Tuesday, Oct. 26.
What Does the Recent WOTUS Rule Change Mean for Your Projects?
To help builders and developers understand how to move forward with ongoing or planned projects, NAHB developed FAQs to provide interim (unofficial) guidance based upon the Clean Water Act statute, existing regulatory guidance documents, and past practices by the agencies.
EPA Declares Pre-2015 WOTUS Rule Now in Effect
Following the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona’s ruling on Monday to remand and vacate the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR), which defines the “waters of the U.S. (WOTUS),” the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers stated that “the agencies have halted implementation of the Navigable Waters Protection Rule and are interpreting ‘waters of the United States’ consistent with the pre-2015 regulatory regime until further notice.”
With WOTUS Under Attack, NAHB Members Voice Support for 2020 Rule
A federal court ruling this week on the “waters of the U.S. (WOTUS)” rule comes after the Biden administration announced its intent to change the regulatory definition of WOTUS in June. In response, NAHB members and HBA staff spoke out in support of the current WOTUS rule.
