On March 12, 2025, the Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers (The Agencies) announced a Federal Register notice publicizing a series of six listening sessions and a 30-day recommendations docket to solicit feedback on key aspects of the definition of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS). The six listening sessions will be held in-person with a virtual option for states, tribes, industry and agricultural stakeholders, environmental and conservation stakeholders, and the general public. The Agencies are committed to obtaining targeted input from a full spectrum of co-regulators and stakeholders on key topic areas related to the definition of “waters of the United States” in light of Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, regarding “continuous surface connection,” “relatively permanent,” and jurisdictional versus non-jurisdictional ditches. The Agencies also seek input on implementation challenges related to those key topic areas.
You can register for the following listening session:
- Listening Session for States: April 29, 2025 from 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET (Virtual and at EPA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.)
- Listening Session for Tribes: April 30, 2025 from 1:00 – 3:30 p.m. ET (Virtual)
- Listening Session for Industry and Agricultural Stakeholders: May 1, 2025 from 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET (Virtual and at EPA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.)
- Listening Session for Environmental and Conservation Stakeholders: May 1, 2025 from 1:00 – 3:30 p.m. ET (Virtual and at EPA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.)
- Listening Sessions for the Public: To be Announced
You can view the official WOTUS Notice here.
Source: EPA