API Welcomes New Clean Water Rule

The American Petroleum Institute (API) today welcomed the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new clean-water rule that brings clarity and certainty for federal and state authorities, local farmers, builders, manufacturers and other small business owners while protecting the environment.

“Clear, easily implemented and legally sound permitting regulations help regulators, landowners and property developers from all industries make sound resource allocation decisions that protect the environment while facilitating economic growth,” API Senior Vice President of Policy, Economics and Regulatory Affairs Frank Macchiarola said. “API applauds the efforts that the Environmental Protection Agency and the Corps of Engineers made to incorporate the feedback they received from all stakeholders during the pre-rule outreach period and the proposed rule comment period. Today’s rule safeguards U.S. waters while respecting the critical role the states play in environmental protection under cooperative federalism.”

A clear definition of Waters of the United States (WOTUS) allows both the federal and state governments to allocate their limited resources more effectively toward the environmental protection of those waters appropriately under their jurisdiction and protection. From a permitting perspective, additional clarity allows landowners to make more educated decisions about their property and will likely reduce the number of jurisdictional determinations submitted to the Army Corps – a major source of delay under the current permitting system. When landowners, regulated entities and regulators themselves can readily discern the entity with jurisdiction over a waterbody, they can readily take appropriate actions to make sure that the necessary permits are in place.

About API
API represents all segments of America’s oil and natural gas industry. Its more than 600 members produce, process, and distribute most of the nation’s energy. The industry supports 10.9 million U.S. jobs and is backed by a growing grassroots movement of more than 47 million Americans. API was formed in 1919 as a standards-setting organization. In its first 100 years, API has developed more than 700 standards to enhance operational and environmental safety, efficiency and sustainability.