The Environmental Protection Agency says new draft guidance to identify waters that are protected by the Clean Water Act clarifies current confusion stemming from Supreme Court rulings over when contractors need a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit to build in such areas. But some industry groups say the guidance, which the Corps and EPA issued on April 27, greatly expands the scope of the Clean Water Act's protections and could slow down projects and lead to lawsuits.
Glynn Rountree, environmental policy analyst for the National Association of Home Builders, says, “A lot of what they are doing is adding cost and delays with no environmental benefits.”