By Janell M. Bogue and Diane G. Kindermann Henderson
On June 5, 2007, the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers (“Corps”) jointly issued guidance consistent with the Supreme Court’s decision in Rapanos. This document is entitled “Clean Water Act Jurisdiction Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s Decision in Rapanos v. United States and Carabell v. United States (“Guidance”). The issue in Rapanos was whether a wetland or tributary can be defined as a “water of the U.S.” and thus be subject to jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act (“CWA”). Because the Court issued five separate opinions, it was unclear whether certain types of waters were jurisdictional. The guidance document establishes several categories of waters and discusses whether or not the agencies may assert jurisdiction.
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