Aug 6, 2025 Clean Water Act Section 401 Coalition Comments
Subject: Comments on Section 401 State Water Quality Certification Open Docket; Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2025-0272
Dear Ms. Browne,
The undersigned organizations write to express strong support for continued improvements to the Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 401 certification process— ensuring that the possible changes to the regulation provide clarity, certainty, and regulatory durability.
Permitting reform is essential to advancing national economic growth and modernizing critical infrastructure, while maintaining the environmental protections that are central to EPA’s mission. Efficient, transparent permitting processes help accelerate the deployment of energy, transportation, and water infrastructure— driving job creation and resilience in communities across our nation. Clean Water Act Section 401 state certifications play a foundational role in this framework, ensuring that states and tribes have a meaningful voice in reviewing that federally permitted projects comply with water quality standards. Strengthening coordination and certainty around Section 401 certifications can enhance both environmental outcomes and permitting efficiency, supporting EPA’s goals of protecting water resources, while enabling timely infrastructure investment.
