Join businesses from all 50 states and tell Congress to stop the new WOTUS definition.

1. LET’S GET OUR
RULES RIGHT
TELL CONGRESS: DITCH WOTUS
#RegReform

2. #RegReform
WHAT IS WOTUS?
KEY FACT:
Under the Clean Water Act, the federal government
has jurisdiction over “navigable waters”– bodies of
water where interstate transportation or commerce
could take place. WOTUS, Waters of the United States,
defines which bodies of water are “navigable waters”
and fall under federal jurisdiction.
EPA was tasked with clarifying the scope of
the Clean Water Act, or redefining WOTUS,
so people could better understand and
comply with the law.

3. #RegReform
WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?
Instead of clarifying the rule, EPA changed the
definition of WOTUS to include “ephemeral waters.”
In other words, that little stream that shows up in
your backyard only after it rains now falls under the
federal government’s authority.
E·pherm·er·al
/əˈfem(ə)rəl/
Adj.
An ephemeral waterbody is a wetland,
spring, stream, river, pond or lake that
only exists for a short period following
precipitation or snowmelt.

4. #RegReform
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
By adding the word “ephemeral” to the
new definition of WOTUS, EPA drastically
expanded the reach of the federal government.
For example, EPA increased stream miles
under federal jurisdiction in Kansas from
32,000 to 134,000 miles, a 400% increase.
InMiles
Before
32,00025,000
50,000
75,000
100,000
125,000
150,000
After
134,000

5. #RegReform
WHO DOES IT IMPACT?
WOTUS will require farmers, ranchers, and
other businesses to obtain federal land use
permits at a median cost of $155,000.
EPA estimates WOTUS will increase annual
costs for permitting in the United States by
$158–$465 million.

6. LET’S GET OUR
RULES RIGHT
Join businesses from all 50 states and tell Congress
to stop the new WOTUS definition.
www.friendsoftheuschamber.com/stopwotus
#RegReform