,,ii  #aad? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #aagh  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,april #cj1 #bjae ,mr4 
,flake 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,mc,cain1 &     
,mrs4 ,fis*]7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2  
:i* 0 read twice & ref]r$ to !          
,committee on ,environm5t & ,public     
,works  ,a ,,bill  ,to prohibit         
implem5tation ( a propos$ rule relat+ to
 ! def9ition ( ! t]m wat]s ( ! ,unit$   
,/ates "u ! ,clean ,wat] ,act1 or any   
sub/antially simil> rule1 until a       
,supplem5tal ,sci5tific ,review ,panel &
 ,ephem]al & ,int]mitt5t ,/reams        
,advisory ,committee produce c]ta9      
reports1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort   
title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,def5d+ 
,riv]s f ,ov]rea*+ ,policies ,act (     
#bjae4  #b4 ,wat]s ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates    
7a7 ,f9d+s ,congress f9ds t--  7#a7     
accord+ to ! te/imony ( ,assi/ant       
,secret>y ( ! ,army = ,civil ,works     
,jo-,ell5 ,d>cy at ! ,h\se (            
,repres5tatives & ,s5ate ,jo9t ,he>+ on 
,/ate & ,local ,impacts ( !             

,adm9i/ration's ,propos$ ,expansion (   
,wat]s ,regulation on ,febru>y #d1      
#bjae1 t propos$ expansion ( wat]s      
regulation is bas$ on sci5ce includ+ a  
pe]-review$ report on connectivity & !  
recomm5dations ( ,,epa's ,sci5ce        
,advisory ,bo>d2  7#b7 ! propos$ rule   
entitl$ ,def9ition ( ,wat]s ( ! ,unit$  
,/ates ,"u ! ,clean ,wat] ,act 7#gi ,f$4
 ,reg4 #bbahh 7,april #ba1 #bjad771 0   
draft$ be=e ! sci5ce on :i* ! propos$   
rule 0 bas$ _h be5 review$ by !         
,sci5tific ,advisory ,bo>d ( !          
,environm5tal ,protection ,ag5cy2  7#c7 
! f9al review & syn!sis ( ! sci5tific   
evid5ce 0 releas$ 9 ,janu>y #bjae1 #b   
mon?s aft] ! close ( ! public comm5t    
p]iod = ! propos$ rule2  7#d7 ! review &
 syn!sis ( ! sci5tific evid5ce f\nd t ! 
degree & d[n/ream effects ( ^?          
connections betwe5 p>ts ( a wat]%$ v>y  
spatially & temporally & ! connectivity 
( /reams & wetl&s to d[n/ream wat]s     
occurs along a cont9uum2  7#e7 ! au?ors 
( ! review & syn!sis 7 unable to place !

 wat] bodies 9 ! case /udies along a    
gradi5t ( connectivity & report$ t !    
rese>* community has n rea*$ a cons5sus 
reg>d+ ! be/ me?ods or metrics to       
quantify or pr$ict hydrologic or *emical
 connectivity2  7#f7 )\t a sci5tific    
basis = evaluat+ ! degree ( connectivity
 betwe5 a p>ticul> /ream & a            
traditionally navigable wat]1 x is      
premature to use ! sci5tific lit]ature  
to def9e :i* connections are            
significant2  7#g7 because ! analysis ( 
! relevant sci5ce 0 complet$ aft] !     
propos$ rule describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#b7 0 
draft$1 & because ! sci5tific review    
fail$ to produce a me?od to assess !    
location ( a p>ticul> wat] body on a    
gradi5t ( connectivity1 ! result+       
propos$ rule is n effectively bas$ on   
sci5ce2 &  7#h7 because ! likely co/ (  
implem5tation ( t propos$ rule w be     
great] ?an ! #afb1jjj1jjj to            
#bgh1jjj1jjj cit$ 9 ! te/imony (        
,adm9i/rator ( ! ,environm5tal          
,protection ,ag5cy ,g9a ,mc,carthy at ! 

,h\se ( ,repres5tatives & ,s5ate jo9t   
he>+ describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a71 !        
proposal w h significant impacts on _m  
sectors ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates economy4  7b7 
,def9itions ,9 ?is section3 7#a7        
,adm9i/rator ,! t]m ,adm9i/rator means !
 ,adm9i/rator ( ! ,environm5tal         
,protection ,ag5cy4  7#b7 ,commission ,!
 t]m ,commission means ! ,commission    
e/abli%$ "u subsection 7d77#a74  7#c7   
,panel ,! t]m ,panel means ! ,panel     
e/abli%$ "u subsection 7c77#a74  7#d7   
,propos$ rule ,! t]m propos$ rule means 
! propos$ rule entitl$ ,def9ition (     
,wat]s ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,"u ! ,clean   
,wat] ,act 7#gi ,f$4 ,reg4 #bbahh       
7,april #ba1 #bjad774  7#e7 ,secret>y ,!
 t]m ,secret>y means ! ,secret>y ( !    
,army1 act+ ?r\gh ! ,*ief ( ,eng9e]s4   
7c7 ,supplem5tal ,sci5tific ,review     
,panel  7#a7 ,e/abli%m5t ,! ,secret>y & 
! ,adm9i/rator %all e/abli% a panel1 to 
be kn[n z ! ,supplem5tal ,sci5tific     
,review ,panel1 to submit to ! ,secret>y
 & ! ,adm9i/rator recomm5dations reg>d+ 

metrics1 bas$ on ! be/ available        
sci5tific in=mation1 to quantify !      
degree ( connectivity betwe5 any body ( 
wat] or wetl& & a traditionally         
navigable wat]4  7#b7 ,memb]%ip  7,a7 ,9
 g5]al ,! ,panel %all be compos$ ( #i   
memb]s1 ( :om-- 7i7 #b %all be appo9t$  
by ! ,majority ,lead] ( ! ,s5ate2  7ii7 
#b %all be appo9t$ by ! ,m9ority ,lead] 
( ! ,s5ate2  7iii7 #b %all be appo9t$ by
 ! ,speak] ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives2 
7iv7 #b %all be appo9t$ by ! ,m9ority   
,lead] ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives2 &   
7v7 #a %all be appo9t$ by ! ,presid5t ( 
! ,national ,academy ( ,eng9e]+4  7,b7  
,date ( appo9tm5ts ,! appo9tm5t ( a     
memb] ( ! ,panel %all be made n lat] ?an
 #de days aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is  
,act4  7,c7 ,qualifications ,ea* memb] (
 ! ,panel %all be appo9t$ f among       
individuals :o possess-- 7i7 exp]tise 9 
a field ( ! biogeosci5ces1 su* z        
hydrology1 ecology1 or geomorphology2   
7ii7 7,i7 academic excell5ce1 z det]m9$ 
9 accordance ) crit]ia includ+          

pe]-review$ j\rnal publications & invit$
 academic conf]5ce pres5tations2 or     
7,,ii7 practical exp]tise demon/rat$ by 
a record ( employm5t z a pr(essional )  
equival5t exp]i5ce z an academic        
sci5ti/2 &  7iii7 exp]i5ce reg>d+       
collect+ & int]pret+ field measurem5ts (
 /reams & wetl&s4  7,d7 ,requirem5t ,9  
appo9t+ memb]s ( ! ,panel1 ea* appo9t+  
(fic] ref]r$ to 9 subp>agraph 7,a7 %all 
ensure t ! ,panel includes balanc$      
repres5tation ( rese>* exp]tise across  
all ,level ,i ecoregions 7z def9$ 9     
section ,,iii ( ! #aiig publication ( ! 
,commission = ,environm5tal ,coop]ation 
publication entitl$ ,ecological ,regions
 ( ,nor? ,am]ica ,t[>d a ,common        
,p]spective74  7,e7 ,*airp]son ,at !    
fir/ meet+ ( ! ,panel1 a majority ( !   
memb]s ( ! ,panel pres5t & vot+ %all    
elect ! ,*airp]son ( ! ,panel f among ! 
memb]s ( ! ,panel4  7,f7 ,vacancies ,a  
vacancy on ! ,panel--  7i7 %all n affect
 ! p[]s ( ! ,panel2 &  7ii7 %all be     
fill$ 9 ! same mann] z ! orig9al        

appo9tm5t 0 made4  7,g7 ,comp5sation    
7i7 ,9 g5]al ,a memb] ( ! ,panel-- 7,i7 
%all n be consid]$ to be a ,f$]al       
employee = any purpose by reason (      
s]vice on ! ,panel2 &  7,,ii7 %all s]ve 
)\t pay4  7ii7 ,travel exp5ses ,a memb] 
( ! ,panel %all be all[$ travel exp5ses1
 includ+ p] diem 9 lieu ( subsi/5ce1 at 
rates au?oriz$ = an employee ( an ag5cy 
"u sub*apt] ,i ( *apt] #eg ( title #e1  
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 :ile away f ! home 
or regul> place ( bus9ess ( ! memb] 9 ! 
p]=mance ( ! duties ( ! ,panel4  7,h7   
,initial meet+ ,! ,panel %all hold !    
initial meet+ ( ! ,panel by n lat] ?an  
#ij days aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is   
,act4  7,i7 ,meet+s ,! ,panel %all meet 
at ! call ( a majority ( ! memb]s ( !   
,panel4  7,j7 ,quorum ,( ! memb]s ( !   
,panel1 #e %all con/itute a quorum4     
7,k7 ,rules ( proc$ure ,! ,panel may    
e/abli% rules = ! conduct ( bus9ess ( ! 
,panel1 subject to ! condition t ^?     
rules %all n be inconsi/5t ) ?is ,act or
 any o!r applicable law4  7#c7 ,duties  

,! ,panel %all-- 7,a7 recomm5d metrics1 
bas$ on ! be/ available sci5tific       
in=mation & consid]+ ! duration1        
magnitude1 & frequ5cy ( fl[s1 to        
quantify ! degree ( connectivity betwe5 
any body ( wat] or wetl& & a            
traditionally navigable wat]2  7,b7     
ensure ! recomm5d$ metrics acc\nt =     
regional v>iability 9 all types (       
wat]bodies & across all ,/ates1 !       
,di/rict ( ,columbia1 ,pu]to ,rico1 &   
o!r t]ritories & possessions ( ! ,unit$ 
,/ates2 &  7,c7 n lat] ?an #a ye> aft] !
 date on :i* ! ,panel fir/ conv5es1     
submit to ! ,secret>y & ,adm9i/rator a  
report describ+ ea* recomm5dation ( !   
,panel to :i* n few] ?an #f memb]s h    
agre$4  7#d7 ,adm9i/rative support  7,a7
 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y & ! ,adm9i/rator 
%all provide to ! ,panel su* /aff &     
adm9i/rative s]vices z may be necess>y &
 appropriate = ! ,panel to p]=m ! duties
 "u p>agraph 7#c74  7,b7 ,detail (      
,f$]al ,gov]nm5t employees  7i7 ,9 g5]al
 ,an employee ( ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t may  

be detail$ to ! ,panel )\t reimbursem5t4
  7ii7 ,civil s]vice /atus ,! detail ( !
 employee %all be )\t int]ruption or    
loss ( civil s]vice /atus or privilege4 
7#e7 ,fund+ ,! ,secret>y & !            
,adm9i/rator %all provide to ! ,panel   
su* funds z ! ,secret>y & ! ,adm9i/rator
 det]m9e to be appropriate f am\nts made
 available to ! ,secret>y & !           
,adm9i/rator 9 appropriations ,acts4    
7#f7 ,t]m9ation ,! ,panel %all t]m9ate  
on ! e>li] (-- 7,a7 ! date t is #ahj    
days aft] ! date on :i* ! report is     
submitt$ "u p>agraph 7#c77;,c72 &  7,b7 
! date t is #b ye>s aft] ! date (       
enactm5t ( ?is ,act4  7#g7              
,applicability ( ,f$]al ,advisory       
,committee ,act  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,f$]al
 ,advisory ,committee ,act 7#e ,u4,s4,c4
 ,app47 %all apply to ! ,panel4  7,b7   
,public meet+s & release ( public       
v]sions ( reports ,! ,panel %all-- 7i7  
hold public he>+s & meet+s to ! ext5t   
appropriate2 &  7ii7 release public     
v]sions ( ! report requir$ "u p>agraph  

7#c77;,c74  7,c7 ,public he>+s ,any     
public he>+s ( ! ,panel %all be conduct$
 9 a mann] consi/5t ) ! protection (    
in=mation provid$ to or develop$ = or by
 ! ,panel z requir$ by any applicable   
law1 regulation1 or ,executive ord]4    
7d7 ,ephem]al & ,int]mitt5t ,/reams     
,advisory ,commission  7#a7 ,e/abli%m5t 
,! ,secret>y & ! ,adm9i/rator %all      
e/abli% a commission1 to be kn[n z !    
,ephem]al & ,int]mitt5t ,/reams         
,advisory ,commission1 to develop       
crit]ia to def9e :e!r a wat]body or     
wetl& has a significant nexus to a      
traditional navigable wat] us+ ! metrics
 develop$ by ! ,panel4  7#b7 ,memb]%ip  
7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,commission %all be    
compos$ ( #ae memb]s1 ( :om-- 7i7 #b    
%all be appo9t$ by ! ,majority ,lead] ( 
! ,s5ate2  7ii7 #b %all be appo9t$ by ! 
,m9ority ,lead] ( ! ,s5ate2  7iii7 #b   
%all be appo9t$ by ! ,speak] ( ! ,h\se (
 ,repres5tatives2  7iv7 #b %all be      
appo9t$ by ! ,m9ority ,lead] ( ! ,h\se (
 ,repres5tatives2 &  7v7 #g %all be     

appo9t$ jo9tly by ! ,adm9i/rator & !    
,secret>y4  7,b7 ,date ( appo9tm5ts ,!  
appo9tm5t ( a memb] ( ! ,commission %all
 be made n lat] ?an ! date t is #de days
 aft] ! date on :i* ! report ( ! ,panel 
is submitt$ "u subsection 7c77#c77;,c74 
7,c7 ,qualifications ,ea* memb] ( !     
,commission %all be appo9t$ f among     
individuals :o possess-- 7i7 exp]i5ce   
reg>d+ ! p]mitt+ process "u ! ,f$]al    
,wat] ,pollution ,control ,act 7#cc     
,u4,s4,c4 #abea et seq472  7ii7 exp]i5ce
 s]v+ on ! ,panel2 or  7iii7 7,i7       
exp]tise 9 a field ( ! biogeosci5ces1   
su* z hydrology1 ecology1 or            
geomorphology2 &  7,,ii7 academic       
excell5ce1 z det]m9$ 9 accordance )     
crit]ia includ+ pe]-review$ j\rnal      
publications & invit$ academic conf]5ce 
pres5tations4  7,d7 ,requirem5ts ,9     
appo9t+ memb]s ( ! ,commission1 ea*     
appo9t+ (fic] ref]r$ to 9 subp>agraph   
7,a7 %all ensure t ! ,commission        
includes--  7i7 balanc$ repres5tation ( 
rese>* exp]tise across all ,level ,i    

ecoregions 7z def9$ 9 section ,,iii ( ! 
#aiig publication ( ! ,commission =     
,environm5tal ,coop]ation publication   
entitl$ ,ecological ,regions ( ,nor?    
,am]ica ,t[>d a ,common ,p]spective72 & 
7ii7 equal repres5tation ( ! foll[+     
gr\ps3 7,i7 ,individuals :o repres5t--  
7aa7 ! int]e/s ( build]s & develop]s2   
7bb7 agricultural int]e/s2  7cc7 en]gy &
 m9]al developm5t2 or  7dd7 ! comm]cial 
timb] indu/ry4  7,,ii7 ,individuals :o  
repres5t-- 7aa7 nationally or regionally
 recogniz$ environm5tal organizations2  
7bb7 sport1 recreational1 & comm]cial   
fi%+ int]e/s2  7cc7 sportsman's         
organizations2 or  7dd7 municipal wat]  
supply int]e/s4  7,,iii7 ,individuals   
:o--  7aa7 hold a ,/ate1 c\nty1 or local
 elect$ (fice2  7bb7 are employ$ by a   
,/ate ag5cy responsible = ! managem5t ( 
! environm5t or natural int]e/s2 or     
7cc7 repres5t ! affect$ public at-l>ge4 
7,e7 ,*airp]son ,at ! fir/ meet+ ( !    
,commission1 a majority ( ! memb]s ( !  
,commission pres5t & vot+ %all elect !  

,*airp]son ( ! ,commission f among !    
memb]s ( ! ,commission4  7,f7 ,vacancies
 ,a vacancy on ! ,commission--  7i7 %all
 n affect ! p[]s ( ! ,commission2 &     
7ii7 %all be fill$ 9 ! same mann] z !   
orig9al appo9tm5t 0 made4  7,g7         
,comp5sation  7i7 ,9 g5]al ,a memb] ( ! 
,commission-- 7,i7 %all n be consid]$ to
 be a ,f$]al employee = any purpose by  
reason ( s]vice on ! ,commission2 &     
7,,ii7 %all s]ve )\t pay4  7ii7 ,travel 
exp5ses ,a memb] ( ! ,commission %all be
 all[$ travel exp5ses1 includ+ p] diem 9
 lieu ( subsi/5ce1 at rates au?oriz$ =  
an employee ( an ag5cy "u sub*apt] ,i ( 
*apt] #eg ( title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates     
,code1 :ile away f ! home or regul>     
place ( bus9ess ( ! memb] 9 ! p]=mance (
 ! duties ( ! ,commission4  7,h7        
,initial meet+ ,! ,commission %all hold 
! initial meet+ ( ! ,commission n e>li] 
?an ! date on :i* ! report ( ! ,panel is
 submitt$ "u subsection 7c77#c77;,c74   
7,i7 ,meet+s ,! ,commission %all meet at
 ! call ( a majority ( ! memb]s ( !     

,commission4  7,j7 ,quorum ,( ! memb]s (
 ! ,commission1 #i %all con/itute a     
quorum4  7,k7 ,rules ( proc$ure ,!      
,commission may e/abli% rules = !       
conduct ( bus9ess ( ! ,commission1      
subject to ! condition t ^? rules %all n
 be inconsi/5t ) ?is ,act or any o!r    
applicable law4  7#c7 ,duties ,!        
,commission %all-- 7,a7 develop crit]ia 
to def9e :e!r a wat]body or wetl& has a 
significant nexus to traditional        
navigable wat] us+ ! metrics develop$ by
 ! ,panel2  7,b7 ensure ^? crit]ia      
acc\nt = regional v>iability 9 all types
 ( wat]bodies & wetl&s & across all     
,/ates1 ! ,di/rict ( ,columbia1 ,pu]to  
,rico1 & o!r t]ritories & possessions ( 
! ,unit$ ,/ates2  7,c7 n lat] ?an #ahj  
days aft] ! date on :i* ! ,commission   
holds ! initial meet+ "u p>agraph       
7#b77;,h71 submit to ! ,secret>y & !    
,adm9i/rator a draft report t--  7i7    
describes ! crit]ia develop$ by !       
,commission2 &  7ii7 is subject to a    
#fj-;day p]iod = public comm5t2 &  7,d7 

aft] address+ ! comm5ts receiv$ dur+ !  
#fj-;day comm5t p]iod "u subp>agraph    
7,c77ii71 submit to ! ,secret>y & !     
,adm9i/rator a f9al report4  7#d7       
,adm9i/rative support  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,! 
,secret>y & ! ,adm9i/rator %all provide 
to ! ,commission su* /aff & adm9i/rative
 s]vices z may be necess>y & appropriate
 = ! ,commission to p]=m ! duties "u    
p>agraph 7#c74  7,b7 ,detail ( ,f$]al   
,gov]nm5t employees  7i7 ,9 g5]al ,an   
employee ( ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t may be    
detail$ to ! ,commission )\t            
reimbursem5t4  7ii7 ,civil s]vice /atus 
,! detail ( ! employee %all be )\t      
int]ruption or loss ( civil s]vice /atus
 or privilege4  7#e7 ,fund+ ,! ,secret>y
 & ! ,adm9i/rator %all provide to !     
,commission su* funds z ! ,secret>y & ! 
,adm9i/rator det]m9e to be appropriate f
 am\nts made available to ! ,secret>y & 
! ,adm9i/rator 9 appropriations ,acts4  
7#f7 ,t]m9ation ,! ,commission %all     
t]m9ate on ! e>li] (-- 7,a7 ! date t is 
#ahj days aft] ! date on :i* ! f9al     

report is submitt$ "u p>agraph          
7#c77;,d72 &  7,b7 ! date t is #c ye>s  
aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act4  7#g7
 ,applicability ( ,f$]al ,advisory      
,committee ,act  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,f$]al
 ,advisory ,committee ,act 7#e ,u4,s4,c4
 ,app47 %all apply to ! ,commission4    
7,b7 ,public meet+s & release ( public  
v]sions ( reports ,! ,commission %all-- 
7i7 hold public he>+s & meet+s to !     
ext5t appropriate2 &  7ii7 release      
public v]sions ( ! reports requir$ "u   
subp>agraphs 7,c7 & 7,d7 ( p>agraph     
7#c74  7,c7 ,public he>+s ,any public   
he>+s ( ! ,commission %all be conduct$ 9
 a mann] consi/5t ) ! protection (      
in=mation provid$ to or develop$ = or by
 ! ,commission z requir$ by any         
applicable law1 regulation1 or          
,executive ord]4  7e7 ,prohibition ,!   
,secret>y & ! ,adm9i/rator are prohibit$
 f develop+1 f9aliz+1 adopt+1 implem5t+1
 apply+1 adm9i/]+1 or en=c+ ! propos$   
rule or beg9n+ ! draft+ ( any           
sub/antially simil> rule until ! date on

 :i* ! ,secret>y & ! ,adm9i/rator       
receive a f9al report f ! ,commission "u
 subsection 7d77#c77;,d74