A federal agency has announced a new request that follows a Supreme Court decision last year which stripped federal oversight from large swaths of water bodies. The move comes almost a year after the agency first proposed a revised rule to redefine “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) in light of the 2023 ruling. The request aims to clarify which waterways will still fall under federal jurisdiction, potentially restoring protections for streams, wetlands, and other water resources that were previously excluded. Stakeholders—including environmental groups, farmers, and local governments—are watching closely to see how the new proposal will balance regulatory reach with the court’s mandate.
The request, announced Friday, comes nearly a year after the agency proposed a rule defining "waters of the United States," or WOTUS, based on a 2023 Supreme Court ruling that removed federal protections for vast areas.
