NAHB reports that it urged the U.S. Senate today to pass a pending bill that would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to withdraw its proposed “waters of the United States” rule , and go back and address areas that should have been addressed prior to proposing the rule; that is, consult with state and local governments, meet and discuss the proposal with small business stakeholders, and create a cost-benefit analysis. The revised rule could then be re-proposed. NAHB maintains that the currently proposed rule, which was intended to clarify the Clean Water Act, “provides broader definitions of existing regulatory categories, such as tributaries. It also seeks to regulate additional areas that are not currently federally regulated, such as adjacent non-wetlands, floodplains and other waters.” This will impact housing costs, states’ rights, and small business according to NAHB. NAHB is urging instead that the Senate pass a bipartisan Senate bill S. 1140, the Federal Water Quality Protection Act, which NAHB third vice chair, Randy Noel, testified “will provide the clarity we all need on what constitutes a water of the United States.” Read More at NAHBnow.com
