flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Appellate court enacts nationwide stay on controversial expansion of Clean Water Act

Codes and Standards

Appellate court enacts nationwide stay on controversial expansion of Clean Water Act

New EPA rule suspended until court cases settled.


By Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor | October 16, 2015

The EPA had expanded the definition of “waters of the United States” under the act to include smaller streams and other bodies of water. Photo: GinaD/Wikimedia Commons.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit enacted a nationwide stay on the Environmental Protection Agency’s expanded Clean Water Act provisions.

The EPA had expanded the definition of “waters of the United States” under the act to include smaller streams and other bodies of water. The Sixth Circuit Court said in its ruling: “A stay temporarily silences the whirlwind of confusion that springs from uncertainty about the requirements of the new rule and whether they will survive legal testing.”

The EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers will use their previous definitions of “waters of the U.S.” until federal courts sort out the validity of the expanded definition.

“We applaud the court for taking this action to suspend EPA’s water rule,” said National Association of Home Builders Chairman Tom Woods. “NAHB has been working diligently on the legislative and legal fronts to overturn this rule that raises housing costs, tramples states’ rights, and adds unnecessary regulatory burdens to small businesses.”

Related Stories

Codes and Standards | Mar 28, 2016

Occupant egress simulations that impact codes fall short, researchers say

Building evacuations in emergencies are too dangerous as a result.  

School Construction | Mar 28, 2016

National report on school buildings reports $46 billion annual funding shortfall

Millions of students said to be learning in obsolete facilities.  

Codes and Standards | Mar 25, 2016

ASHRAE grants fund human thermal comfort database project

Aim is to help better understand thermal comfort in residential and commercial buildings.  

Codes and Standards | Mar 25, 2016

OSHA finalizes new silica dust regulations

Construction industry has until June 2017 to comply.  

Wood | Mar 23, 2016

APA updates Engineered Wood Construction Guide

Provides recommendations on engineered wood construction systems.

Codes and Standards | Mar 23, 2016

Affordable housing advocates differ on micro-apartment policy

New York’s luxury micro units could be first step to developing affordable units.  

Codes and Standards | Mar 21, 2016

GRESB launches Health and Well-being Module for real estate industry

Optional supplement to environmental, social, and governance assessment.  

Codes and Standards | Mar 4, 2016

U.S. Supreme Court lets San Jose affordable housing law stand

Law attempts to alleviate Silicon Valley’s high housing costs.  

Codes and Standards | Mar 2, 2016

WELL standard offers multiple benefits for owners, says real estate executive

Could be a recruiting tool for occupant companies.  

Cultural Facilities | Mar 1, 2016

China bans ‘weird’ public architecture, gated communities

Directs designers of public buildings to focus on functionality.  

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category




halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021