On February 14, 2019, the EPA and the Department of the Army published for public comment the official proposed rule in the Federal Register defining the scope of waters federally regulated under the Clean Water Act (CWA). Comments are being accepted by EPA until April 15. GCSAA's Government Affairs team is reviewing the proposed rule now and will lead the golf industry in developing a response to the proposal. 

GCSAA will also provide comment on the rule at a public hearing in Kansas City on February 28. 

You can review a copy of the WOTUS rule in the Federal Register here. 

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This week, the EPA and the Department of the Army have proposed the long-anticipated replacement for the 2015 Clean Water Rule (commonly known as WOTUS). GCSAA has led opposition in the golf industry to WOTUS because of the devastating economic impact it would have on the game. If implemented, projects vital to golf course operations, such as planting trees and installing drainage, would be at risk due to the lack of certainty as to whether a nearby river, stream, creek, wetland, pond or ditch falls under the jurisdiction of the federal government. GCSAA appreciates the next steps toward a common sense rule that clarifies federal jurisdiction over waterways while respecting the role that stakeholders — including golf and states — play in protecting them.

GCSAA Chief Executive Officer Rhett Evans said, "Our superintendents are committed environmental stewards who protect the quality of waterways by applying physical, agronomic and environmental best management practices, such as correct mowing, Integrated Pest Management, nutrient management and other environmental practices. GCSAA support efforts to follow the principles of cooperative federalism under the Clean Water Act by working with all stakeholders, including golf course superintendents, to write a better rule."

GCSAA will continue to work with federal decision-makers on behalf of golf course management and lead the comment-making process to the replacement rule and work with stakeholders across the industry to develop comments. The association will also work with superintendents to make sure they are a part of this process and that golf's voice is being heard.



The agencies will take comment on the proposal for 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. 

• Proposed Revised Definition of "Waters of the United States" - Pre-Publication Version of the Proposed Rule
  
  
• Press Release: EPA and Army Propose New Definition of "waters of the United States"
  
  
• Fact Sheets:
  • Overview of the Proposed Revised Definition of "Waters of the United States"
  • Responding to Public Input
  • Economic Analysis
  • Key Changes
    
    
• Infographic: Proposed Jurisdiction Waters under Revised Definition
  
  
• Economic Analysis for the Proposed Revised Definition of "Waters of the United States"
  
  
• Resource and Programmatic Assessment for the Proposed Revised Definition of "Waters of the United States"
  
  
• Public Webcast - EPA and the Army will hold a public webcast to help explain the key elements of the proposed "Revised Definition of Waters of the United States" on Thursday, January 10, 2019. The entire webcast will be posted on this website. Registration is limited to 2000 attendees, so interested parties are encouraged to view with colleagues. Registration is available here.
  
  
• Public Listening Session - EPA and the Army will hold a public listening session on the proposed "Revised Definition of Waters of the United States" on Wednesday, January 23, 2019 at The Reardon Convention Center in Kansas City, KS. A Federal Register notice will be published shortly with more details.