Earlier this year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed revisions to Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, a provision that governs how states and authorized tribes review federal permits for projects that may impact local water quality. The proposal seeks to restore a broader interpretation of state authority, allowing certifying agencies to evaluate the full scope of federally permitted activities—not just narrow point-source discharges such as pipes or ditches—and giving states greater procedural flexibility to approve, deny, or condition permits in ways that align with their own water quality standards. The proposed changes would reinforce the Clean Water Act’s original [...]