Falls Church, Va. – In response to the Clean Water Act Rule finalized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army, the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors-National Association (PHCC) expressed deep concerns about the rule's anticipated content and about the flawed regulatory process behind it.

PHCC and other groups in the construction arena have been particularly vocal that the rule, which aims to more precisely define waters protected under the Clean Water Act. The groups are concerned that this expanded federal jurisdiction could negatively affect construction projects. Last year, PHCC and other industry representatives submitted comments to www.phccweb.org requesting that the rule be withdrawn. Just this month, the U.S. House of Representatives passed PHCC-supported legislation requiring EPA to withdraw its rule.

“This is a prime example of the power and danger of the regulatory process,” PHCC National President Kevin Tindall said of EPA's move. “And, as we head into summer and closer to an election year, we'll see more and more of these types of actions that are outside of the legislative process.”

"While PHCC wholeheartedly supports the protection of our nation's water and land resources, we are concerned that this proposed rule is shortsighted," Tindall added. "Now that the rule has been finalized, we'll be working with other organizations and associations to thoroughly analyze it and move to protect the interests of our members."

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