"EPA and Biden Administration Roll Back Clean Water Protections Following Supreme Court Decision"
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of the Army have announced a final rule amending the definition of "waters of the United States" to conform with the recent Supreme Court decision in Sackett v. EPA. The amendments remove certain aspects of the 2023 rule that were deemed invalid by the Supreme Court, providing clarity and a path forward for Clean Water Act implementation. The rule will take effect immediately, allowing the Army Corps of Engineers to resume issuing jurisdictional determinations. The agencies will continue to work with state, Tribal, and local partners to protect and restore the nation's waters while ensuring economic opportunities and agricultural activities.