In June 2006 the Supreme Court, in a decision that split 4-1-4, produced a result in Rapanos v. United States that makes federal Clean Water Act jurisdiction over the wetlands, streams, and other waters of the United States confusing and uncertain for citizens, landowners, and regulators alike. Members of Congress have introduced new legislation to restore jurisdiction over many of the waters cast into doubt by the decision; and the Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers (the federal regulatory agencies) issued a joint guidance document in June 2007 attempting to guide their respective staffs. Numerous federal courts have attempted to apply the uncertain teachings of Rapanos as well. With the support of the Turner Foundation, and the assistance of numerous experts in wetlands science and law, the Environmental Law Institute has prepared a handbook that analyzes the case law, compiles the relevant scientific studies, and provides a set of jurisdictional checklists. The Handbook will assist anyone faced with a jurisdictional question involving a wetland or stream to understand what factors will allow them to find Clean Water Act jurisdiction.

Provides a clearly presented overview of the law's provisions and pertient regulation and enforcement issues.

Completely updated to capture all new revisions and new aspects of the law, the new Clean Water Handbook provides environmental professionals with a comprehensive roadmap to the requirements, legal interpretations, and critical issues of water pollution control law. Written from a legal perspective but intended as a practical resource, the Handbook contains both the legal text of the Clean Water Act and the expert interpretation environmental professionals need to understand what their companies' responsibilities are and how they can fulfill them. Each chapter of this edition focuses on one major component of the Clean Water Act. These chapters provide readers with detailed examinations of the history and requirements of the various water programs. Readers can examine these chapters collectively for a fundamental understanding of the Clean Water Act, or they can use them as reference points as they evaluate the effectiveness of their own compliance programs. This book focuses on the federal Clean Water Act, but it also includes essential information for anyone responsible for complying with a state water pollution control program.

"The Clean Water Act handbook provides environmental professionals with a ... roadmap to the requirements, legal interpretations, and critical issues of water pollution control law. Written from a legal perspective but intended as a practical resource, this handbook contains both the legal text of the Clean Water Act and the expert interpretation environmental professionals need to understand what their companies' responsibilities are and how they can fulfill them. Each chapter of this edition focuses on one major component of the Clean Water Act. These chapters provide readers with detailed examinations of the history and requirements of the various water programs. Readers can examine these chapters collectively for a fundamental understanding of the Clean Water Act, or they can use them as reference points as they evaluate the effectiveness of their own compliance programs."--

Completely updated to capture all new revisions and new aspects of the law, the new Clean Water Handbook provides environmental professionals with a comprehensive roadmap to the requirements, legal interpretations, and critical issues of water pollution control law. Written from a legal perspective but intended as a practical resource, this handbook contains both the legal text of the Clean Water Act and the expert interpretation environmental professionals need to understand what their companies' responsibilities are and how they can fulfill them. Each chapter of this edition focuses on one major component of the Clean Water Act. These chapters provide readers with detailed examinations of the history and requirements of the various water programs. Readers can examine these chapters collectively for a fundamental understanding of the Clean Water Act, or they can use them as reference points as they evaluate the effectiveness of their own compliance programs. This book focuses on the federal Clean Water Act, but it also includes essential information for anyone responsible for complying with a state water pollution control program. The entire Clean Water Act with all current amendments as of January 2003 is included.

Over the past decade, interpretations of Supreme Court (SC) rulings removed some critical waters from Fed. protection, and caused confusion about which waters and wetlands are protected under the CWA. As a result, important waters now lack clear protection under the law. This draft guidance clarifies how the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) will identify waters protected by the CWA and implement the SC¿s decisions concerning the extent of waters covered by the Act. It clarifies how the EPA and the ACE understand existing requirements of the CWA and provides guidance to agency field staff in making determinations about whether waters are protected by the CWA. This is a print on demand report.