,,ii  #aad? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,h4 ,r4 #agcb  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!  
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,may #ac1 #bjae,receiv$
  ,,an ,,act  ,to pres]ve exi/+ rights &
 responsibilities ) respect to wat]s ( !
 ,unit$ ,/ates1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4  
,%ort title  ,?is ,act may be cit$ z !  
,regulatory ,integrity ,protection ,act 
( #bjae4  #b4 ,)drawal ( exi/+ propos$  
rule ,n lat] ?an #cj days aft] ! date ( 
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y ( !    
,army & ! ,adm9i/rator ( ! ,environm5tal
 ,protection ,ag5cy %all )draw ! propos$
 rule describ$ 9 ! notice ( propos$ rule
 publi%$ 9 ! ,f$]al ,regi/] entitl$     
,def9ition ( ,wat]s ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates   
,"u ! ,clean ,wat] ,act 7#gi ,f$4 ,reg4 
#bbahh 7,april #ba1 #bjad77 & any f9al  
rule bas$ on su* propos$ rule 7includ+  
,,r9 #bjdj-;,,af#cj74  #c4  ,developm5t 
( new propos$ rule  7a7  ,9 g5]al  ,!   
,secret>y ( ! ,army & ! ,adm9i/rator ( !
 ,environm5tal ,protection ,ag5cy %all  
develop a new propos$ rule to def9e !   
t]m wat]s ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates z us$ 9 !   

,f$]al ,wat] ,pollution ,control ,act   
7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #abea et seq474  7b7     
,developm5t ( new propos$ rule  ,9      
develop+ ! new propos$ rule "u          
subsection 7a71 ! ,secret>y & !         
,adm9i/rator %all--  7#a7 take into     
consid]ation ! public comm5ts receiv$   
on-- 7,a7 ! propos$ rule ref]r$ to 9    
section #b2  7,b7 ! accompany+ economic 
analysis ( ! propos$ rule entitl$       
,economic ,analysis ( ,propos$ ,revis$  
,def9ition ( ,wat]s ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates   
7dat$ ,m>* #bjad72 &  7,c7 ! report     
entitl$ ,connectivity ( ,/reams  ,wetl&s
 to ,d[n/ream ,wat]s3 ,a ,review        
,syn!sis ( ,sci5tific ,evid5ce          
7,,epa_/#fjj_/,r-#ad_/dge;,f2 dat$      
,janu>y #bjae72  7#b7 jo9tly consult ) &
 solicit advice & recomm5dations f      
repres5tative ,/ate & local (ficials1   
/akehold]s1 & o!r int]e/$ p>ties on h[  
to def9e ! t]m wat]s ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates z
 us$ 9 ! ,f$]al ,wat] ,pollution        
,control ,act2 &  7#c7 prep>e a         
regulatory proposal t w1 consi/5t )     

applicable rul+s ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates      
,supreme ,c\rt1 specifically id5tify ^? 
wat]s cov]$ "u1 & ^? wat]s n cov]$ "u1 !
 ,f$]al ,wat] ,pollution ,control ,act--
  7,a7 tak+ into consid]ation-- 7i7 !   
public comm5ts ref]r$ to 9 p>agraph     
7#a72 &  7ii7 ! advice & recomm5dations 
made by ! ,/ate & local (ficials1       
/akehold]s1 & o!r int]e/$ p>ties        
consult$ "u ?is section2 &  7,b7        
incorporat+ ! areas & issues :]e        
cons5sus 0 rea*$ ) ! p>ties4  7c7       
,f$]alism consultation requirem5ts ,z "p
 ( consult+ ) & solicit+ advice &       
recomm5dations f ,/ate & local (ficials 
"u subsection 7b71 ! ,secret>y & !      
,adm9i/rator %all--  7#a7 seek to rea*  
cons5sus ) ! ,/ate & local (ficials on  
h[ to def9e ! t]m wat]s ( ! ,unit$      
,/ates z us$ 9 ! ,f$]al ,wat] ,pollution
 ,control ,act2  7#b7 provide ! ,/ate & 
local (ficials ) notice & an opportunity
 to p>ticipate 9 ! consultation process 
"u subsection 7b72  7#c7 consult ) ,/ate
 & local (ficials t repres5t a broad    

cross-section ( regional1 economic1     
policy1 & geographic p]spectives 9 !    
,unit$ ,/ates2  7#d7 emphasize !        
importance ( collaboration ) & among !  
,/ate & local (ficials2  7#e7 all[ =    
mean+ful & timely input by ! ,/ate &    
local (ficials2  7#f7 recognize1        
pres]ve1 & protect ! prim>y rights &    
responsibilities ( ! ,/ates to protect  
wat] quality "u ! ,f$]al ,wat]          
,pollution ,control ,act1 & to plan &   
control ! developm5t & use ( l& & wat]  
res\rces 9 ! ,/ates2  7#g7 protect !    
au?orities ( ,/ate & local gov]nm5ts &  
rights ( private prop]ty own]s ov]      
natural & manmade wat] features1 includ+
 ! cont9u$ recognition ( ,f$]al def]5ce 
to ,/ate primacy 9 ! developm5t ( wat]  
law1 ! gov]nance ( wat] rights1 & !     
e/abli%m5t ( ! legal sy/em by :i* ,/ates
 m$iate disputes ov] wat] use2  7#h7    
incorporate ! advice & recomm5dations ( 
! ,/ate & local (ficials reg>d+ matt]s  
involv+ diff]5ces 9 ,/ate & local       
geography1 hydrology1 climate1 legal    

frameworks1 economies1 priorities1 &    
ne$s2 &  7#i7 ensure transp>5cy 9 !     
consultation process1 includ+ promptly  
mak+ accessible to ! public all         
communications1 records1 & o!r docum5ts 
( all meet+s t are "p ( ! consultation  
process4  7d7  ,/akehold] consultation  
requirem5ts  ,z "p ( consult+ ) &       
solicit+ recomm5dations f /akehold]s &  
o!r int]e/$ p>ties "u subsection 7b71 ! 
,secret>y & ! ,adm9i/rator %all--  7#a7 
id5tify repres5tatives ( public &       
private /akehold]s & o!r int]e/$ p>ties1
 includ+ small entities 7z def9$ 9      
section #fja ( title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates  
,code71 repres5t+ a broad cross-section 
( regional1 economic1 & geographic      
p]spectives 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 :i* c\ld 
pot5tially be affect$1 directly or      
indirectly1 by ! new propos$ rule "u    
subsection 7a71 = ! purpose ( obta9+    
advice & recomm5dations f ^?            
repres5tatives ab\t ! pot5tial adv]se   
impacts ( ! new propos$ rule & means =  
r$uc+ su* impacts 9 ! new propos$ rule2 

&  7#b7 ensure transp>5cy 9 !           
consultation process1 includ+ promptly  
mak+ accessible to ! public all         
communications1 records1 & o!r docum5ts 
( all meet+s t are "p ( ! consultation  
process4  7e7  ,tim+ ( f$]alism &       
/akehold] consultation  ,n lat] ?an #c  
mon?s aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1
 ! ,secret>y & ! ,adm9i/rator %all      
initiate consultations ) ,/ate & local  
(ficials1 /akehold]s1 & o!r int]e/$     
p>ties "u subsection 7b74  7f7  ,report 
,! ,secret>y & ! ,adm9i/rator %all      
prep>e a report t-- 7#a7 id5tifies &    
responds to ea* ( ! public comm5ts fil$ 
on--  7,a7 ! propos$ rule ref]r$ to 9   
section #b2  7,b7 ! accompany+ economic 
analysis ( ! propos$ rule entitl$       
,economic ,analysis ( ,propos$ ,revis$  
,def9ition ( ,wat]s ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates   
7dat$ ,m>* #bjad72 &  7,c7 ! report     
entitl$ ,connectivity ( ,/reams  ,wetl&s
 to ,d[n/ream ,wat]s3 ,a ,review        
,syn!sis ( ,sci5tific ,evid5ce          
7,,epa_/#fjj_/,r-#ad_/dge;,f2 dat$      

,janu>y #bjae72  7#b7 provides a detail$
 explanation ( h[ ! new propos$ rule "u 
subsection 7a7 addresses ! public       
comm5ts ref]r$ to 9 p>agraph 7#a72  7#c7
 describes 9 detail-- 7,a7 ! advice &   
recomm5dations obta9$ f ! ,/ate & local 
(ficials consult$ "u ?is section2  7,b7 
! areas & issues :]e cons5sus 0 rea*$ ) 
! ,/ate & local (ficials consult$ "u ?is
 section2  7,c7 ! areas & issues (      
cont9u+ disagreem5t t result$ 9 !       
failure to rea* cons5sus2 &  7,d7 !     
reasons = ! cont9u+ disagreem5ts2  7#d7 
provides a detail$ explanation ( h[ !   
new propos$ rule addresses ! advice &   
recomm5dations provid$ by ! ,/ate &     
local (ficials consult$ "u ?is section1 
includ+ ! areas & issues :]e cons5sus 0 
rea*$ ) ! ,/ate & local (ficials2  7#e7 
describes 9 detail-- 7,a7 ! advice &    
recomm5dations obta9$ f ! /akehold]s &  
o!r int]e/$ p>ties1 includ+ small       
entities1 consult$ "u ?is section ab\t !
 pot5tial adv]se impacts ( ! new propos$
 rule & means = r$uc+ su* impacts 9 !   

new propos$ rule2 &  7,b7 h[ ! new      
propos$ rule addresses su* advice &     
recomm5dations2  7#f7 provides a detail$
 explanation ( h[ ! new propos$ rule--  
7,a7 recognizes1 pres]ves1 & protects ! 
prim>y rights & responsibilities ( !    
,/ates to protect wat] quality & to plan
 & control ! developm5t & use ( l& &    
wat] res\rces 9 ! ,/ates2 &  7,b7 is    
consi/5t ) ! applicable rul+s ( ! ,unit$
 ,/ates ,supreme ,c\rt reg>d+ ! scope ( 
wat]s to be cov]$ "u ! ,f$]al ,wat]     
,pollution ,control ,act2 &  7#g7       
provides compreh5sive regulatory &      
economic impact analyses1 utiliz+ !     
late/ data & o!r in=mation1 on h[       
def9itional *anges 9 ! new propos$ rule 
w impact1 directly or indirectly--  7,a7
 ea* program "u ! ,f$]al ,wat]          
,pollution ,control ,act = ,f$]al1      
,/ate1 & local gov]nm5t ag5cies2 &  7,b7
 public & private /akehold]s & o!r      
int]e/$ p>ties1 includ+ small entities1 
regulat$ "u ea* su* program4  7g7       
,publication  7#a7  ,f$]al ,regi/]      

notice  ,n lat] ?an #c mon?s aft] !     
completion ( consultations ) &          
solicitation ( recomm5dations f ,/ate & 
local (ficials1 /akehold]s1 & o!r       
int]e/$ p>ties "u subsection 7b71 !     
,secret>y & ! ,adm9i/rator %all publi% =
 comm5t 9 ! ,f$]al ,regi/]--  7,a7 ! new
 propos$ rule "u subsection 7a72  7,b7 a
 description ( ! areas & issues :]e     
cons5sus 0 rea*$ ) ! ,/ate & local      
(ficials consult$ "u ?is section2 &     
7,c7 ! report describ$ 9 subsection 7f74
  7#b7 ,duration ( review ,! ,secret>y &
 ! ,adm9i/rator %all provide n few] ?an 
#ahj days = ! public to review & comm5t 
on--  7,a7 ! new propos$ rule "u        
subsection 7a72  7,b7 ! accompany+      
economic analysis = ! new propos$ rule2 
&  7,c7 ! report describ$ 9 subsection  
7f74  7h7 ,proc$ural requirem5ts        
,sub*apt] ,,ii ( *apt] #e1 & *apt] #g1 (
 title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code 7commonly
 kn[n z ! ,adm9i/rative ,proc$ure ,act7 
%all apply to ! developm5t & review ( ! 
new propos$ rule "u subsection 7a74  7i7

  ,/ate & local (ficials def9$  ,9 ?is  
section1 ! t]m ,/ate & local (ficials   
means elect$ or pr(essional ,/ate &     
local gov]nm5t (ficials or _!           
repres5tative regional or national      
organizations4  #d4 ,no additional      
au?orization ( appropriations ,no       
additional funds are au?oriz$ to be     
appropriat$ to c>ry out ?is ,act1 & ?is 
,act %all be c>ri$ out us+ am\nts       
o!rwise available = su* purpose4  #e4   
,effect on ,/ate p]mit programs  7a7 ,9 
g5]al ,if ! ,adm9i/rator ( !            
,environm5tal ,protection ,ag5cy1 bas$  
on ! propos$ rule develop$ "u section   
#c1 issues a f9al rule to def9e ! t]m   
wat]s ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates z us$ 9 ! ,f$]al
 ,wat] ,pollution ,control ,act 7#cc    
,u4,s4,c4 #abea et seq471 ! ,adm9i/rator
 %all--  7#a7 n lat] ?an #ij days aft] !
 date ( issuance ( ! f9al rule1 review  
ea* p]mit program be+ adm9i/]$ by a     
,/ate "u section #djb1 #djd1 or #dje ( t
 ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #acdb1 #acdd1 or   
#acde7 to det]m9e :e!r ! p]mit program  

complies ) ! t]ms ( ! f9al rule2 &  7#b7
 n lat] ?an #aj days aft] ! date (      
completion ( ! review1 notify ! ,/ate   
(-- 7,a7 ! ,adm9i/rator's det]m9ation "u
 p>agraph 7#a72 &  7,b7 9 any case 9 :i*
 ! ,adm9i/rator det]m9es t a p]mit      
program does n comply ) ! f9al rule1 !  
actions requir$ to br+ ! p]mit program  
into compliance4  7b7 ,compliance p]iod 
,dur+ ! #b-ye> p]iod beg9n+ on ! date on
 :i* ! ,adm9i/rator provides notice to a
 ,/ate "u subsection 7a77#b71 !         
,adm9i/rator may n )draw approval ( a   
,/ate p]mit program ref]r$ to 9         
subsection 7a77#a7 on ! basis t ! p]mit 
program does n comply ) ! t]ms ( a f9al 
rule describ$ 9 subsection 7a74  7c7    
,limitation on /atutory con/ruction     
,no?+ 9 ?is section may be con/ru$ to   
limit or o!rwise affect ! au?ority ( !  
,adm9i/rator "u ! ,f$]al ,wat]          
,pollution ,control ,act or any o!r     
provision ( law--  7#a7 to )draw        
approval ( a ,/ate p]mit program ref]r$ 
to 9 subsection 7a77#a71 except z       

specifically prohibit$ by subsection    
7b72 or  7#b7 to disapprove a propos$   
p]mit "u a ,/ate p]mit program ref]r$ to
 9 subsection 7a74  ,pass$ ! ,h\se (    
,repres5tatives ,may #ab1 #bjae4,k>5 ,l4
 ,haas1,cl]k