Additional Opportunity to Provide Input on Critical Clean Water Proposal

WASHINGTON (October 6, 2014)—The Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers today extended for a second time, until November 14, the public comment period on the proposed Clean Water Protection rule, which would restore Clean Water Act safeguards to small streams and wetlands. The proposed rule, already open for review for more than six months and based on an extensive scientific study, has been endorsed by the American Public Health Association and other health groups, hunters, anglers and conservationists.

Jon Devine, a senior attorney with NRDC’s Water Program, made the following statement:

“EPA and the Corps have been inclusive and open to everyone’s views, and this second extension simply underlines that fact. The review process, which began in March, has been extremely transparent and we support the agencies as they focus on the science and public input. Every day that passes is a day the streams and wetlands that contribute to the drinking water of 117 million Americans remain in legal limbo, so we hope the agencies will move promptly to finalize the rule.”