Western States Water Council

A Voice for Water in the West 

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#472 – Clean Water Act Jurisdiction (Past Position, see #481)

Position #472 – September 16, 2021

WHEREAS, the Clean Water Act (CWA) is built upon the principle of cooperative federalism in which Congress intended the states, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to implement the CWA as partners, delegating co-regulator authority to the states;

WHEREAS, the CWA’s cooperative federalism framework has resulted in significant water quality improvements since the law’s enactment in 1972, and western states have made great strides in protecting water quality and coordinating water quality and water quantity decisions; and

WHEREAS, EPA has actively sought meaningful state consultation, engagement and participation in its review and development of a new proposed rule to define Waters of the United States; and

WHEREAS, States are best positioned to manage the water within their borders because of their on-the-ground knowledge of the unique aspects of their hydrology, geology, and legal frameworks; and

WHEREAS, States have both state statutory and constitutional authority pursuant to their “waters of the state” jurisdiction to protect the quality of waters within their borders and such jurisdiction generally extends beyond the limits of federal jurisdiction under the CWA; and

WHEREAS, CWA Section 101(b) supports the states’ critical role in protecting water quality by stating: “It is the policy of Congress to recognize, preserve, and protect the primary responsibilities and rights of States to prevent, reduce, and eliminate pollution;” and

WHEREAS, CWA Section 101(g) further provides that the primary and exclusive authority of each state to “allocate quantities of water within its jurisdiction shall not be superseded, abrogated, or otherwise impaired by this Act;” and

WHEREAS, a one-size-fits-all national approach to federal regulations, guidance, and programs pertaining to the CWA does not recognize specific conditions and needs in the West, where water can be scarce and a variety of unique waterbodies exist, including but not limited to small ephemeral washes and arroyos, snow dependent intermittent streams, effluent dependent and dominated streams, prairie potholes, playa lakes, and terminal lakes, as well as numerous man-made reservoirs, impoundments, and water and stormwater conveyance structures; and

WHEREAS, physical, biological, and chemical differences between waters, and hydrologic differences, both spatially and temporally, as well as considerable differences in legal doctrines that govern water in western states, mean that any federal effort to clarify CWA jurisdiction will inevitably impact each State differently, thus underscoring the need to thoroughly involve states in developing and implementing any rule so as to clearly respect and avoid conflict with state authority over the regulation of water quality and the allocation of waters and water rights within their respective borders; and

WHEREAS, any efforts to redefine or clarify CWA jurisdiction have, on their face, numerous federalism implications that have the potential to significantly impact states and alter the distribution of power and responsibilities among the states and the federal government; and

WHEREAS, as co-regulators, States are separate and apart from the general public, and have a unique role with the federal government in the development and implementation of any rule to clarify or redefine CWA jurisdiction; and

WHEREAS, information-sharing does not equate to meaningful consultation, and the uncertainty and differences of opinion that exist regarding CWA jurisdiction requires EPA and the Corps to develop and implement federal CWA jurisdiction efforts in authentic partnership with the states; and

WHEREAS, uncertainty and differences of opinion have and continue to exist regarding CWA jurisdiction among States, and challenge EPA and the Corps to develop and implement any new rule in cooperation with the States, based on principles of cooperative federalism, and together to provide greater certainty and a clearer definition of the limits of federal jurisdiction; and

WHEREAS, perennial streams with a relatively permanent surface water connection to navigable waters are presumptively considered to be under federal CWA jurisdiction consistent with Rapanos; and

WHEREAS, substantial and recurring changes to regulatory definitions, policies, and programs between federal Administrations create uncertainty for co-regulators and the regulated community, often leading to unreliable results, indecision, inconsistency, and lawsuits.

NOW, THERFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Congress and the Administration should ensure that any federal effort to clarify or define CWA jurisdiction and define Waters of the United States:

1. Creates a more enduring and broadly supported definition.

2. Gives as much weight and deference as possible to state needs, priorities, and concerns.

3. Includes robust and meaningful state participation and consultation in the development and implementation of any rule, acknowledging the inherent federalism implications.

4. Gives full force and effect to Congress’ intent and the purposes of CWA Sections 101(b) and 101(g).

5. Appropriately considers that Justice Kennedy’s “significant nexus” test in Rapanos requires a connection between waters that is more than speculative or insubstantial to establish jurisdiction. Federal CWA jurisdiction efforts should also quantify “significance” to ensure that the term’s usage does not extend jurisdiction to waters with a de minimis connection to jurisdictional waters, applied to individual waters on a case-by-case and not watershed basis.

6. Complies with the limits set by Congress and appropriately considers the limits the U.S. Supreme Court has placed on CWA jurisdiction, expressed through the plurality opinion authored by Justice Scalia in Rapanos.

7. Specifically excludes waters and features outside the scope of the CWA jurisdiction including but not limited to groundwater.

8. Acknowledges that states have authority to protect all “waters of the state,” and that excluding waters from federal jurisdiction does not mean that they will be exempt from state regulation and protection.

9. Continues to provide access to appropriate technical and financial assistance to the States to protect and improve water quality under existing EPA programs without regard to jurisdictional determinations.

10. Provides a clearly delineated process for resolving differences of opinion over federal and non-federal jurisdiction, and jurisdiction between different States and Tribes (treated as States).

11. Provides for mapping of jurisdictional waters as a joint federal/state/tribal effort employing the best available data and tools, with appropriate provisions and processes for map maintenance.

12. Includes an appropriate delay in the effective date of any new rule or otherwise allows for a transition enabling States to take such actions as may be necessary to address any gaps in state law, regulation and protection, and to ensure sufficient time for tools to be developed by federal agencies, in collaboration with states, that facilitate implementation of the new rule.

13. Recognizes the unique landscapes and flow regimes in various regions of the Nation and the need for flexibility in implementation or define a regional nature of the rule.

14. Provides, in the rule development process, a representative number of states, as co-regulators, with diverse perspectives and regions to engage actively in an integrated way with EPA and USACE staff to provide direct and effective feedback on the implementability of a proposed rule.

Revised and Readopted (see former Positions 427 – October 26, 2018, No. 410 – June 29, 2017, and No. 369 – July 18, 2014)