Clean Water Rule: Definition of “Waters of the United States” 40 CFR 230.3 

The Clean Water Rule published on June 29, 2015 in the Federal Register (80 FR 37054). The final rule will become effective on August 28, 2015.

In this final rule, the agencies look to clarify the scope of ‘‘waters of the United States’’ that are protected under the Clean Water Act (CWA), based upon the text of the statute, Supreme Court decisions, the best available peerreviewed science, public input, and the agencies’ technical expertise and experience in implementing the statute.  A copy of the Section of the Federal Register can be obtained in PDF here.