I will soon be introducing legislation to amend the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law to align with the federal standard established by the U.S. Supreme Court in Sackett v. EPA.
 
Pennsylvania’s current definition of “Waters of the Commonwealth” is far broader than federal law. This triggers unnecessary Erosion and Sediment Control permitting for countless land-disturbance projects that have no continuous surface connection to protected waters.
 
The bill would replace the existing definition with a precisely defined standard limited to traditional navigable waters, relatively permanent streams/rivers/lakes, their impoundments, and wetlands with a continuous surface connection — exactly as set forth in the post-Sackett federal framework. Conforming changes to the pollution prohibitions will ensure regulation applies only when there is an actual direct surface link to impaired waters.
 
By eliminating these unnecessary regulatory burdens, this legislation will lower construction costs and speed up timelines for homebuilders, helping to increase housing supply across the Commonwealth.