A special thanks to Valley Water for their generous support of this Federal Spotlight. Your commitment helps drive our mission forward.

NWC members,

Spring has officially arrived in Washington, and the city is buzzing. Tulips are blooming along Pennsylvania Avenue, cherry blossoms are in full display around the Tidal Basin, and everything feels alive, in motion, and full of possibility. That same energy is mirrored on Capitol Hill this week, where members of Congress are moving quickly to advance major legislative priorities before heading out for a two-week recess. Like the season itself, there’s growth, tension, and plenty happening just beneath the surface. We encourage you to take a few moments to dig into the developments captured in this week’s Spotlight – there’s a lot to keep an eye on.

There are many moving pieces in DC right now – budget negotiations, reconciliation planning, workforce reorganization, and sweeping changes to federal disaster recovery and permitting policy. This week’s Spotlight breaks it all down, with updates on what’s happening, what’s ahead, and how it could affect the water resources community. Several public comment periods are currently open, including on the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 and Waters of the United States. NWC has prepared draft comment letters for both and welcomes member feedback as we finalize.

A big thank you to everyone who joined us for NWC’s Legislative Summit, held March 10–12, 2025. We had meaningful discussions, high-impact speakers, and valuable insight from across the water resources community. For those who couldn’t attend – or would like to revisit the content – a recap and links to featured presentations are now available on our website. Also, mark your calendars: our 2025 Annual Meeting in Norfolk is set for September 23–25. Registration will open soon but in the meantime, we are accepting speaker and session ideas here.

Finally, we’re thrilled to welcome Tract as the newest member of the NWC family. We’re also excited to share that Chelsea Polanco has joined the NWC team in a part-time capacity to support member management, event planning, and sponsorship. Chelsea’s role expands on responsibilities previously held by both Tiffany Faulkner and Kathleen Turner, who transitioned and/or retired out of their positions over the past several months. We’re grateful for their service to NWC and delighted to have Chelsea on board as we continue working together to advance resilient, well-managed water resources infrastructure and policy nationwide.

As always, we are here for any questions, comments, or suggestions you might have. Please feel free to reach out.

Julie, Cherise and Chelsea

The NWC team

NEW MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

 WELCOME TO NEW NWC MEMBER TRACT. Tract is a team of digital infrastructure experts who provide master-planned data center parks to facilitate speed and certainty in developing new data center capacity. We work with hyperscalers, operators, local communities, landowners, and energy companies to incorporate long-term planning and scaled sites in a way that streamlines development cycles and benefits all stakeholders. Our approach is collaborative, working closely with cities and counties to ensure development is targeted for optimal locations. This maximizes revenue and economic development benefits for the community, while also being good stewards of the land and minimizing impact on neighbors.

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

BLOG. Possible unintended consequences with White House NEPA order (Dawson & Associates, March 21, 2025). The blog from Dawson & Associates discusses potential unintended consequences of the White House’s recent Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) guidance on National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) implementation. It raises concerns that the new directive may introduce confusion and delays, particularly by encouraging agencies to assess climate-related effects without clear boundaries, which could complicate permitting and infrastructure development.

BLOG. A lawyer’s look at the Trump Administration’s “national energy emergency order.” (Dawson & Associates, Feb. 17, 2025). A blog  provides a legal perspective on the Trump administration’s National Energy Emergency Executive Order, examining its statutory basis and potential legal challenges. The author highlights the broad authority the order invokes under existing energy and national emergency laws but questions its long-term implications and the precedent it may set.

SERIES. Guiding through Change: Understanding Policy Shifts in the Trump Administration (K&L Gates, ongoing). A series by K&L Gates provides an overview of President Trump’s early 2025 policy actions, noting that nearly 150 executive orders were issued within his first two days in office. The series highlights sweeping changes across immigration, energy, technology, defense, and social policy, including enhanced immigration enforcement, proposed changes to birthright citizenship, a national energy emergency, and significant investments in artificial intelligence. K&L Gates offers legal insights into how these actions may affect businesses and regulatory frameworks.

WEBINAR. Loper Bright: Navigating the New Regulatory State and Implications for the Trump Administration Agency (K&L Gates). The K&L Gates webinar, titled “Loper Bright: Navigating the New Regulatory State and Implications for the Trump Administration Agenda” discusses the Supreme Court’s decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, which overruled the Chevron doctrine that had mandated judicial deference to federal agencies’ interpretations of ambiguous statutes. This landmark ruling requires courts to independently interpret statutes without defaulting to agencies’ perspectives. The article explores how this shift may affect the legislative, regulatory, and judicial processes, particularly concerning the Trump administration’s policy initiatives.

 

CONGRESSIONAL/ GOVERNMENTWIDE SPOTLIGHT

OVERVIEW. Both chambers of Congress are in session this week, the final legislative week before a two-week recess for Easter and Passover. Lawmakers are scheduled to return on Monday, April 28. Before the break, House Republican leadership is aiming to pass a procedural budget resolution that would unlock reconciliation authority for President Donald Trump’s tax and spending priorities.

House faces challenge passing Senate budget resolution. Speaker Mike Johnson (R–La.) is facing internal pushback from members of the Republican Conference over the House – Senate compromise resolution (H.Con.Res.14) approved by the Senate over last weekend. A number of Republicans are currently expected to vote “no,” with objections centering on the structure of the resolution’s spending targets, which some argue give the Senate too much flexibility to scale back cuts originally sought by the House. With a narrow majority, Johnson can lose no more than three Republican votes if the resolution is to pass without Democratic support.

Current House party breakdown. The current House breakdown is 222 Republicans and 211 Democrats, with two vacancies – one in Texas’s 18th District following the death of Rep. Sylvester Turner (D–Texas), and one in New York’s 26th following the death of Rep. Brian Higgins (D–N.Y.). Two special elections held in Florida last week resulted in Republican wins in the 16th and 35th Districts.

Proxy vote proposal sparks House recess. Additionally, last week’s House schedule was impacted by a separate issue involving a proposal from Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R–Fla.) that would have allowed new parents to vote by proxy. The rule governing debate on the proposal failed early in the week, prompting Speaker Johnson to recess the House for the remainder of the week. While floor action was suspended, some committee hearings continued as planned. Johnson and Luna have since reached a compromise to rely on the informal “vote pairing” system. This approach requires bipartisan cooperation, and how it will work in practice remains to be seen.

Trump Pulls UN Nomination for Stefanik. In a related development, President Trump has withdrawn Rep. Elise Stefanik’s (R–N.Y.) nomination to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, citing the need to preserve the GOP’s narrow majority in the House. Stefanik is expected to rejoin Republican leadership, although it remains unclear in what capacity.

FY 2025 AND FY2025 APPROPRIATIONS. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has 60 days from enactment of the full-year continuing resolution on March 15 to release its FY2025 Work Plan. As part of that legislation, Congress rescinded approximately $1.4 billion in unobligated IIJA Construction account funds, a move that may limit the Corps’ ability to support new or expanded construction projects in this cycle. While the President has designated certain Corps accounts in the FY2025 bill as emergency requirements – exempting those funds from sequestration – the IIJA rescission applies specifically to prior-year balances and remains in effect. As a result, stakeholders should expect a potentially leaner work plan than in recent years, particularly in the construction portfolio.

For FY2026 appropriations, appropriators are hearing from members while awaiting the President’s budget request which is expected in late April or May.  House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R–Okla.) has indicated that subcommittees should be ready to begin markups shortly after its release.

The Energy and Water Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R–Tenn.), held a member day hearing on April 8. Members advocated for Army Corps, Bureau of Reclamation, and DOE priorities. Republicans emphasized permitting and nuclear energy, while Democrats focused on clean energy and resilience programs.

NOMINATIONS AND PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENTS. Adam Telle has been nominated to serve as Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works. If confirmed, he would oversee the USACE Civil Works program. Brent Sadler has been nominated as the next Maritime Administrator. Both nominations are pending before the Senate. Additionally, Lee Forsgren has joined the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works as Principal Deputy and is serving as Acting Assistant Secretary until Telle is confirmed.

WORKFORCE AND STRUCTURAL REFORMS. The Department of Defense has opened a second round of its Deferred Resignation Program (DRP), with applications due by April 14. The program offers financial incentives and paid leave for voluntary separations through the end of the fiscal year. While USACE has not issued a formal statement, internal reports and member feedback suggest that thousands of Corps employees across headquarters, division, and district offices may have opted into the DRP. How the DRP will impact studies, projects, permits and policy processes and approvals remains uncertain.

At DoD, per Defense One, an ongoing hiring freeze has created confusion and staffing gaps. Civilian personnel report inconsistent guidance, delayed onboarding, and limited communication. Commanders have expressed concern about operational readiness and the long-term impact on agency capacity.

DoD is also conducting a department-wide civilian workforce reorganization. Internal memos obtained by DefenseScoop show that service branches have been asked to submit plans for potential position eliminations or consolidations by mid-April. The effort is being coordinated through DOGE.

A February 2025 OPM memo on “Guidance on Agency RIF and Reorganization Plans Requested by Implementing the President’s Department of Government Efficiency” Workforce Optimization Initiative,”outlines the process for agencies to develop Agency RIF and Reorganization Plans (ARRPs) and submit them to OPM and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). It specifies that agencies should continue sending monthly progress reports on May 14, June 16, and July 16, 2025. The guidance emphasizes identifying positions for reduction or reclassification, including those that may be moved to the newly established Schedule Policy/Career (formerly known as Schedule F), which allows for at-will dismissal of certain employees.

Separately, the Departments of Transportation, Energy, and Housing and Urban Development have reissued the “Fork in the Road” buyout program. Employees were given until April 7–11 to voluntarily separate in exchange for continued pay and benefits through September 30.

The National Weather Service has begun consolidating key forecasting bureaus and is preparing for the loss of up to 1,000 staff through early retirements, buyouts, and other departures. The Weather Prediction Center and the Climate Prediction Center are among those being merged. These cuts follow years of understaffing and are raising concerns about service delivery in critical sectors like agriculture, transportation, and energy.

These actions are the subject of ongoing litigation. On April 8, the U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily blocked a lower court’s order that required the Trump administration to reinstate approximately 16,000 probationary federal employees who were recently terminated. These mass firings occurred across six agencies, including Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Interior, and Treasury. A federal judge in California had previously ruled that these dismissals violated federal law and mandated the employees’ reinstatement. This marks the third recent instance where the Supreme Court has sided with the administration in disputes over federal workforce reductions. While the California judge’s reinstatement order is paused, many affected employees remain on paid leave due to a separate case in Maryland involving additional agencies and states. The Justice Department is appealing that ruling as well. Since President Trump took office, over 24,000 probationary federal workers have reportedly been terminated,

DEBT CEILING PROJECTIONS. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that the federal government could run out of borrowing authority as early as August or September 2025 if the debt limit is not raised or suspended. The Bipartisan Policy Center has estimated the X-date could fall between mid-July and October, depending on tax revenue and spending patterns. House Republicans have proposed linking a debt limit increase to reconciliation legislation that would extend provisions of the 2017 tax law. Some Senate Republicans are pushing for a stand-alone measure, but internal consensus has not been reached. April tax collections may influence the debate’s timing.

 Hearings of interest:

 

FEDERAL SPOTLIGHT

ADMINISTRATION

SECTION 301 ACTION EXPECTED SOON. The administration is continuing to evaluate a proposed Section 301 fee targeting vessels with Chinese links that call at U.S. ports. While initially framed as a flat fee on ships built in China or operated by Chinese-owned firms, the administration is now considering a range of adjustments in response to industry concerns. Options under discussion include delaying implementation, scaling fees based on the percentage of Chinese-built vessels in a company’s fleet, or calculating the charge by tonnage or cargo volume rather than a flat rate. Officials say the goal is to maintain pressure on China while limiting unintended harm to U.S. trade and logistics. An administration proposal is expected to be released as early as this week.

LATEST ON TARIFFS. President Trump has partially paused the broad new tariff regime announced last week, signaling relief for some countries — but not for China. While the 10 percent increase went into effect Saturday for most nations, Trump stated that more than 75 countries have contacted the administration to negotiate and have refrained from retaliating, making them eligible for reduced enforcement. China, by contrast, imposed an 84 percent retaliatory tariff on U.S. goods, prompting Trump to post on Truth Social today that he would raise tariffs on Chinese imports to 125 percent, effective immediately.

EXECTUTIVE ORDER (EO). Extending the TikTok Enforcement Delay. President Trump has issued a 75-day extension for Chinese firm ByteDance to divest TikTok’s U.S. operations. The move delays a ban that had been expected to take effect this month. The administration continues to pursue a hardline trade strategy with China, including a 34 percent tariff on a broad range of Chinese imports that takes effect April 10. A second round of tariffs, totaling 50 percent, has been proposed if China follows through on its own retaliatory measures.

  1. Stopping Waste, Fraud, and Abuse by Eliminating Information Silos (EO 14237). On March 20, 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued Executive Order 14237, “Stopping Waste, Fraud, and Abuse by Eliminating Information Silos”, aimed at combating waste, fraud, and abuse within the federal government by enhancing data transparency and eliminating information silos. The order directs federal agencies to ensure that designated officials have access to all unclassified agency records, data, and IT systems to improve inter-agency collaboration and efficiency. It also requires agencies to review and modify any policies that hinder information sharing and mandates that the federal government obtain comprehensive data from state programs receiving federal funds. The Secretary of Labor is tasked with gaining access to all unemployment data to enhance fraud detection efforts. This executive order seeks to streamline government operations and improve accountability in taxpayer-funded programs.
  2. Strengthening the Suitability and Fitness of the Federal Workforce (EO 14238). On March 20, 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued Executive Order 14238, “Strengthening the Suitability and Fitness of the Federal Workforce”, delegating authority to the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to make final suitability determinations and take actions regarding executive branch employees based on post-appointment conduct. The order also mandates that the Director propose regulations to amend Part 731 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, to implement appropriate rules and procedures for suitability determinations and actions.
  3. Eliminating Waste and Saving Taxpayer Dollars by Consolidating Procurement (EO 14240). On March 20, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14240, “Eliminating Waste and Saving Taxpayer Dollars by Consolidating Procurement”, to streamline federal procurement by consolidating the purchase of common goods and services under the General Services Administration (GSA). The order mandates that federal agencies submit proposals to transfer procurement functions to the GSA, develop a comprehensive procurement plan, and designate the GSA as the lead for all government-wide IT procurement. This move aims to reduce waste, improve efficiency, and save taxpayer dollars.
  4. State and Local Preparedness (Executive Order 13239). On March 19, 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued Executive Order 13239, “Achieving Efficiency Through State and Local Preparedness”, aimed at enhancing national resilience by empowering state and local governments in their preparedness efforts. The order directs the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (APNSA) to develop and publish a National Resilience Strategy within 90 days, prioritizing key areas of resilience against cyber threats, natural disasters, and other risks. Additionally, the APNSA must review existing critical infrastructure policies and recommend revisions to enhance national resilience within 180 days. The order also mandates a review of national continuity policies to ensure governance continuity during various emergencies. The goal is to streamline federal preparedness operations, reduce complexity, and improve national security through state and local involvement.
  5. Additional Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions (EO 14236). On March 14, 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued Executive Order 14236, titled “Additional Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions.” This order revokes 18 executive actions from previous administrations, including those related to COVID-19 data response, foreign policy workforce revitalization, human rights advocacy, federal contractor minimum wage increases, Defense Production Act determinations, biotechnology promotion, worker rights, tribal funding reforms, and registered apprenticeship programs. One significant revocation is Executive Order 14026, which established a $15-per-hour minimum wage for federal contractors. Following this rescission, the Department of Labor announced it would cease enforcement of the $15 minimum wage rule and plans to implement steps to effectuate the revocation.

 NOTICE. Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to Significant Malicious Cyber-Enabled Activities. On March 31, 2025, the President issued a notice continuing the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13694 concerning significant malicious cyber-enabled activities. Originally declared on April 1, 2015, this national emergency addresses the increasing prevalence and severity of cyber threats originating from, or directed by, individuals located outside the United States. The continuation underscores the ongoing threat these activities pose to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States. As a result, the national emergency will remain in effect beyond April 1, 2025. ​

 

COUNCIL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

NEPA RULE CHANGES. The Council on Environmental Quality’s rule revoking the prior administration’s NEPA regulations takes effect on April 14. Each federal agency must develop its own implementation procedures by February 2026. CEQ has issued guidance encouraging coordination across agencies, particularly on shared projects.

CYBERSECURITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE SECURITY AGENCY (Department of Homeland Security)

NEW LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. CISA has introduced a modern Learning Management System (LMS) called CISA Learning, designed to enhance training for employees and key stakeholders. This platform supports CISA’s mission to streamline learning and provide federal, state, local, tribal, territorial partners, and veterans with the tools needed to protect critical infrastructure.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

ENERGY PROGRAM REVIEWS. The Department of Energy is reviewing whether to eliminate the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations. The office currently oversees more than $9 billion in project funding. Under a reported draft proposal, staffing would be reduced from 250 to 35, and roughly $10 billion in programs would be reassigned elsewhere within the department. The proposed elimination of the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations could halt planned zero-carbon infrastructure projects for U.S. ports, which were intended to support alternative maritime fuels, electrification, and long-duration energy storage to help ports adapt to evolving clean energy demands. A decision could be announced as early as next week.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

ADVISORY BULLETIN. Pipeline Safety Management System. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has issued an advisory bulletin encouraging pipeline operators to implement a Pipeline Safety Management System (PSMS). PSMS offers a proactive approach to managing risks across pipeline operations and improves safety performance. PHMSA recommends using frameworks like the API Recommended Practice 1173 to identify and reduce risks throughout the pipeline lifecycle. This initiative aligns with the Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety (PIPES) Act of 2020 and addresses a recommendation from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

PUBLIC MEETINGS. International Standards on the Transport of Dangerous Goods. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) will host four public meetings in 2025 to gather input ahead of international meetings on hazardous materials transportation. These include meetings in preparation for the ICAO Dangerous Goods Panel in Delhi (April 2025), the UN Sub-Committee on Dangerous Goods in Geneva (June 2025), the ICAO DGP in Montreal (October 2025), and another UNSCOE TDG session in Geneva (November 2024). The meetings will take place at DOT Headquarters, with remote participation options available. Details will be posted on the PHMSA website: www.phmsa.dot.gov/international-program/international-program-overview.

REQUEST FOR COMMENTS. United States Marine Highway Program (comments due by April 18, 2025). The Maritime Administration (MARAD) is requesting public comments on the reinstatement of an information collection for the United States Marine Highway Program. This collection, previously discontinued in 2023 due to changes in the program, will be used to evaluate grant applications for funding to develop, expand, or promote marine highway transportation. MARAD seeks approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to renew this collection in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Comments can be submitted at www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

EXTENSION OF COMMENT PERIOD. Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (comments now due April 14, 2025). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has extended the comment period for its proposed rule, “National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Chemical Manufacturing Area Sources Technology Review,” initially set to close on March 24, 2025.

WITHDRAWAL OF DIRECT FINAL RULE. Hazardous and Solid Waste Management System. The EPA is withdrawing the direct final rule titled “Hazardous and Solid Waste Management System: Disposal of Coal Combustion Residuals From Electric Utilities; Legacy CCR Surface Impoundments; Correction,” published on January 16, 2025, due to the receipt of adverse comments. The withdrawal is effective as of March 20, 2025.

REOPENING OF COMMENT PERIOD. Review of New Source Performance Standards for Stationary

Combustion Turbines and Stationary Gas Turbines (comments due April 15, 2025). On December 13, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed amendments to the new source performance standards (NSPS) for new, modified, and reconstructed stationary combustion turbines and stationary gas turbines. The EPA is reopening the public comment period for this proposed rule to allow additional time for stakeholders to review and comment on the proposal. The initial 90-day public comment period, which ended March 13, 2025, is being reopened for an additional 21 days, from March 25, 2025 to April 15, 2025.

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY 

BRIC FUNDING ENDING. FEMA has formally ended the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program. The agency indicated that the remaining IIJA funds will be returned to the Treasury. States with large BRIC allocations are expected to see project impacts. This change aligns with broader policy shifts at the Department of Homeland Security, where post-disaster responsibilities are being moved to states and local governments per President Trump’s Executive Order on Achieving Efficiency Through State and Local Preparedness.

FFRMS ROLLBACK. FEMA also announced it is no longer implementing the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) effective March 25. The standard had required federally funded projects to incorporate climate resilience measures, such as building to higher flood elevations or adopting natural floodplain restoration practices. Originally established by executive order and expanded under the Biden administration, the standard applied to infrastructure projects supported by federal funds, including those administered by USACE and HUD. FEMA stated that the rescission of FFRMS aligns with a broader return to its “core mission” and reflects the administration’s view that resilience should be a local responsibility.

FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION

REQUEST FOR COMMENTS. Transit Constraints at International Maritime Chokepoints (comments due on or before May 13, 2025). The Federal Maritime Commission has exercised its statutory authority to initiate a non-adjudicatory investigation into transit constraints at international maritime chokepoints, particularly concerning the effects of the laws, regulations or practices of foreign governments, and the practices of owners or operators of foreign-flag vessels, on shipping conditions in these chokepoints.

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION (NOAA)

WEBSITE SHUTDOWN DELAYED. Recent reports indicate that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) was preparing to shut down most public-facing websites for its Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) due to the expiration of a cloud services contract. This shutdown, initially expected over the past weekend, would have affected external portals and internal systems, including the agency’s N-Wave network. However, NOAA has since extended the contract until July 31, 2025, allowing these websites and systems to remain operational while the agency seeks alternative cloud-computing solutions.

U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS

WRDA 2024 IMPLEMENTATION AND COMMENTS (comments due April 28, 2025). The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is implementing the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024. A public comment period is open per NWC’s March 7 Federal Spotlight. NWC will be sharing a draft comment letter with our Legislative Policy Committee later this week. If you would like to weigh in on NWC’s comments – but are not part of the LPC – reach out to Julie Ufner to get a copy of the draft. The letter will address implementation issues, new authorities, and guidance on project development and funding eligibility.

PROPOSED RULE. USACE/EPA propose new WOTUS definition (comments due April 23, 2025). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Army are engaging with state and tribal co-regulators, industry and agricultural stakeholders, environmental groups, and the public to discuss the implementation of the “waters of the United States” definition following the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Sackett v. EPA. The agencies aim to learn from past regulatory approaches, including the 2015 Clean Water Rule and 2020 Navigable Waters Protection Rule, and seek stakeholder input on how to clarify the definition in line with the Court’s ruling.  The listening sessions will be held as web and in-person conferences in April-May 2025. Registration instructions and dates will be forthcoming at the following website: https://www.epa.gov/wotus/public-outreach-and-stakeholder-engagement-activities. NWC does plan to send comments.

NEW HOPPER DREDGE. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and contractors have begun construction on a new Medium Class Hopper Dredge for the Philadelphia District, replacing the aging McFARLAND. The new vessel is expected to be completed in 2027.