Posts by growthzone
SWS and Scientific Societies comment on EPA proposed Rule to update Clean Water Act regulations on water quality certification
SWS and eight other scientific societies submitted comment letters on October 21, 2019 in opposition to the EPA’s proposed rule “Updating Regulations on Water Quality Certification” https://www.epa.gov/cwa-401/updating-regulations-water-quality-certification. The proposed rule provides no scientific basis for how it would contribute to upholding the mandate of the Clean Water Act to restore and maintain the chemical, physical and…
Read MoreSWS WOTUS comment letter
Dear Administrator Wheeler and Mr. James, On behalf of the Society of Wetland Scientists and representing 3,000+ wetland and aquatic science professionals, we respectfully submit the following comments in response to your solicitation regarding the proposed Rule “Revised Definition of ‘Waters of the United States” (proposed Rule) (84 FR 4154; Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2018-0149), published…
Read MoreScience Societies WOTUS Comment Letter
Dear Administrator Wheeler and Assistant Secretary James: On behalf of the undersigned science societies, we respectfully submit the following comments in response to the proposed Rule “Revised Definition of ‘Waters of the United States” (proposed Rule) (84 FR 4154; Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2018-0149), published in the Federal Register on February 14, 2019.The undersigned scientific societies…
Read MoreRequest for 200-day comment period
Dear Administrator Wheeler, On behalf of the Society of Wetland Scientists, representing approximately 3000 members, we respectfully request that EPA and the US Army Corps of Engineers extend the public comment period from 60 days to a minimum of 200 days in length for the proposed rule “Revised Definition of ‘Waters of the United States’”…
Read MoreSWS joins other aquatic science societies in opposing the WOTUS Rule to replace the 2015 Clean Water Rule
The EPA and US Army Corps of Engineers issued a proposed Rule to replace the 2015 Clean Water Rule, which will greatly reduce the area of wetlands, headwaters, ephemeral and isolated wetlands and waters that are federally protected. SWS members who wish to comment on this Rule will have 60 days to submit comments once the Rule is…
Read MoreSouth Carolina U.S. District Court issues nationwide injunction rendering CWR Suspension Rule void
The U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina found that the Trump administration improperly suspended the Clean Water Rule (Read the Order). Specifically, the Court held that (1) the EPA and Corps violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) by refusing to solicit public comment on the merits of suspending the Clean Water Rule…
Read MoreAnother amicus curiae brief in support of Clean Water Rule is filed on behalf of the Society of Wetland Scientists
On July 24, 2018 an amicus curiae brief in support of Clean Water Rule was filed in the North Dakota Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Clean Water Rule case. The brief reiterates that the Clean Water Rule is scientifically sound and is based on state of the science studies, including those in the EPA’s Connectivity Report.The Connectivity…
Read MoreAnother amicus curiae brief in support of Clean Water Rule is filed on behalf of the Society of Wetland Scientists
Interests of the Amicus Curiae The Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS) is a leading professional association of wetland and aquatic scientists around the world, including the United States. Established in 1980, SWS advances scientific and educational objectives related to wetland science and encourages professional standards in all activities related to wetland science. SWS has over…
Read MoreSWS Denver Declaration on the Management and Restoration of Wetlands
SWS issued the Society of Wetland Scientists Denver Declaration on the Management and Restoration of Wetlands at the 2018 SWS Annual Meeting in Denver, CO, USA, on May 29 – June 1, 2018. Over 200 attendees signed the statement in support. The Statement reads as follows: “The following participants at the Society of Wetland Scientists 2018 Annual…
Read MoreSWS Europe Chapter produces Declaration on the Protection of the Lake Ohrid Ecosystem
The SWS Europe Chapter produced a Declaration on the Protection of the Lake Ohrid Ecosystem at its 13th annual chapter meeting, April 30 – May 4, 2018. The Declaration recognizes the important ecosystem services provided by the wetlands of the Lake Ohrid system and how the health of these are tied to the economic well-being of…
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