Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the agencies) announced the pre-publication version of a proposed rule to rescind the Obama-era 2015 “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule that defines what streams, wetlands and other wet areas are controlled by the federal government and subject to all the permitting and other requirements of the Clean Water Act. This action is the first step in a comprehensive, two-step process intended to review and revise the definition of WOTUS consistent with President Trump’s Executive Order on “Restoring the Rule of Law, Federalism, and Economic Growth by Reviewing the ‘Waters of the United States’ Rule.”

Tell Gov’t What Rules Should Be Modified or Removed to Help Small Businesses
Establishes New Office to Root out Inefficiency
Both Congress and the White House have turned to ż for common-sense recommendations on streamlining the federal environmental permitting and review processes.
Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt announced a one-year delay of EPA’s final designation of counties that are not attaining the 2015 ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). The 2015 standard tightened the existing 2008 standard from 75 parts per billion (ppb) to 70 ppb. Designations for the 2015 standard were originally due by this October. EPA is taking this additional time to review and re-evaluate many of the complicated issues that ż raised in its comments on the proposed version of the 2015 rule.
Danielle Feroleto, Small Giants I’m going to go out on a limb and confess and unpopular view…I hate selfie sticks. I actually will alienate myself from almost every reader and tell you I also hate selfies. Now, before you stop reading and throw this offensive article in the trash, let me tell you why. I love networking! Every single little thing about it….from the first uncomfortable conversation to the rewards you reap in relationships built throughout your career, it is, in my opinion, The most important business skill you can acquire. It’s not for everyone and it’s not as easy as most think to do it well. I will give you some of the best tips I have learned in networking all through the reasons I believe your selfie stick is ruining your networking life!
EPA Extends and Expands 2017 ‘DERA’ Clean Diesel Funding Competition Now Underway
Join us on September 13-14, in Crystal City, Virginia!
ż members report struggles with Endangered Species Act (ESA) requirements that delay infrastructure projects and significantly increase costs while not necessarily providing commensurate species and habitat benefits. At the request of Congress, ż has identified legislative and administrative improvements to the ESA that support: the protection of listed species; responsible land and resource management; and streamlined delivery of critical infrastructure projects.