The California State Water Resources Control Board comments on Proposed Waters of the U.S. Rule

A copy of the comments submitted by the California Water Resources Board to the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers on the Proposed Waters of the U.S. Rule.

From the comments: “Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of the Army’s (collectively the “Agencies”) jointly Proposed Rule,’ which defines the scope of “waters of the United States” protected under the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) in light of recent U.S. Supreme Court cases. The California State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board), in conjunction with the nine California regional water quality control boards (collectively, “Water Boards “), is designated as California’s water pollution control agency for the CWA. The Proposed Rule will affect all of the CWA programs that are administered by the Water Boards, including section 401 water quality certification, section 402 permitting, and section 303 water quality standards. Therefore, please accept the following general comments, as well as the attached specific comments, on the Proposed Rule on behalf of staff of the Water Boards.”