Clean Water Act comment period extension

EPA's and the Army Corps of Engineer's proposed rule would expand Clean Water Act jurisdiction to almost all waters in the United States, impacting how communities and landowners manage their public and private property using pesticide and fertilizer products. Landowners will be subject to CWA provisions for permitting and will be vulnerable to citizen lawsuits challenging their ability to manage their own property. Professionals making pesticide and fertilizer applications to turf and ornamental plants, golf courses and to manage invasive and noxious terrestrial and aquatic weeds will also be impacted as will those making public health applications to control ticks and mosquitoes.
 
The rule was published in the Federal Register April 21, and there is a 90-day comment period until July 21. Your voice is important in this process, and we are asking you to support our request for a 90-day comment period extension.

Sample Extension Request:

Please carefully review the sample extension request below and personalize your submission. Review the submission instructions below the sample request to deliver your customized message.
________________________________________

[Insert date]
 
Submitted electronically via regulations.gov
 
Ms. Donna Downing
Jurisdiction Team Leader, Wetlands Division
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460
 
Ms. Stacey Jensen
Regulatory Community of Practice
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
441 G Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20314
 
Attention: Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-2011-0880
 
Re: Request for Extension of Comment Period on EPA and Corps Proposed Rule Defining "Waters of the United States" Under the Clean Water Act,
 
Dear Ms. Downing and Ms. Jensen:
 
I am a [insert personal description, i.e.: PCO, landscape contractor, parent...] and clean water is very important to me.  Your proposed rule is a significant expansion of the Clean Water Act that will affect every American, and have significant impact on my business and community due to the proposed increased jurisdiction over all waters.  Due to the proposed rule's complexity, additional time is needed for me to review and respond to the rule and all its implications for my business, community and state.
 
I am respectfully requesting an extension of the public comment period, for an additional 90 days, on the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Proposed Rule Defining "Waters of the United States" Under the Clean Water Act.  76 Fed. Reg. 22,188 (Apr. 21, 2014).
 
Sincerely,
 
[insert name]
 
________________________________________

How to Submit Your Extension Request:
 
Write your letter and submit your request for Extension by commenting in the Federal Register at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0880-0001.
 
Or you can email ow-docket@epa.gov, including EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0880 in the subject line of the message.