Buddy Hughes, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Lexington, North Carolina, has commented on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) recent decision. The EPA announced its intention to consider new rulemaking to revise the definition of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule.
"NAHB commends the EPA for moving to make changes to the WOTUS rule that will protect our nation’s waterways and provide builders and developers the clarity and certainty they need in the federal wetlands permitting process to help house America’s citizens," Hughes stated. He highlighted that obtaining a Clean Water Act Section 404 permit under WOTUS can take more than a year. Such delays, according to Hughes, put home building projects on hold and increase construction costs.
He further noted, "Today’s action by the EPA will help alleviate federal permitting roadblocks that are exacerbating the nation’s housing affordability crisis."
