NAHB NEWS Statement from NAHB Chairman Randy Noel on Proposed WOTUS Rule Randy Noel, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a custom home builder from LaPlace, La., today issued the following statement on the newly-released proposed definition for “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act: “NAHB commends the Trump administration for releasing its proposed new definition of the waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) that will reduce years of uncertainty over where federal jurisdiction begins and ends. By bringing certainty and clarity to which waters fall under federal oversight, this proposal should help accelerate the permitting process so home builders can more easily provide safe and affordable housing. “Finalizing this revised WOTUS definition will protect our nation’s waterways without adding needless regulatory burdens that will hurt housing and other industries that depend on a predictable permitting process.” Read More Waters of the U.S. The Clean Water Act makes it unlawful for a person to add pollutants to a “water of the United States” (WOTUS) without a permit. Since 1972, determining which water bodies are waters of the United States has been the subject of federal agency regulations, guidance and numerous cases both at the U.S. Supreme Court and at the lower federal courts. Now, roughly half of the country is subject to one set of regulations while the other half must comply with different requirements. On Dec. 11, 2018, the Trump administration proposed a new WOTUS definition to replace the controversial 2015 rule that went so far as to regulate man-made ditches and isolated ponds on private property. EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) are now accepting comments on the proposed rule. Home builders need a clear definition of what constitutes waters of the United States that does not encompass man-made systems or remote features with marginal ecologic value and is not beyond congressional intent of the Clean Water Act. When home builders need to add fill material into a water of the United States, they first get a permit from the Corps. Obtaining permits is costly and time consuming. For example, one study found that it costs on average $270,000 and takes 788 days to obtain an individual Clean Water Act fill permit. Read More 22 HBRA of Fairfield County | DECEMBER 2018 Home Builders Mourn the Passing of President Bush Randy Noel, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a custom builder from LaPlace, La., issued the following statement on the passing of President George H. W. Bush: “On behalf of all the members of NAHB, I wish to extend my deepest condolences to the Bush family. President Bush was an American war hero, a great statesman and an American patriot who embodied the ideals of our nation. “He was also a true believer in housing. President Bush hosted the NAHB Board of Directors on the South Lawn of the White House to commemorate the association’s 50th anniversary. He said that ‘strong housing can help a strong economy’ and ‘the dream of homeownership keeps the American dream alive.’ “To make these words a reality, President Bush pushed vigorously for policies to ensure that housing would help boost the economy. He championed a $5,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers, called for penalty-free withdrawals from IRAs for the purchase of a first home, urged changes in the passive loss tax rules to spur real estate and housing development, and called for an extension of mortgage revenue bonds and the low-income housing tax credit. Read More
23 Publizr Home