EPA Administer Says Durable WOTUS Rule More Important Than Speed

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin said the agency is working to finalize a new Waters of the United States, or WOTUS, rule but is prioritizing legal durability over speed as it seeks a definition that can withstand future court challenges and political shifts. Zeldin said the EPA wants to complete the rule as soon as possible but has not set a public timeline. The regulation determines which wetlands, streams and other water bodies fall under federal protection through the Clean Water Act. Zeldin said the agency's goal is to develop a definition that remains stable across administrations and survives future elections. The issue has been the subject of years of litigation, including the U.S. Supreme Court's 2023 decision in the Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency case, which narrowed federal authority over certain wetlands. Zeldin also said EPA's ongoing review of glyphosate will be guided by scientific evidence. The agency expects to complete that review later this year.

Source: NAFB