NAHB Members Continue to Support Proposed WOTUS Rule
NAHB members voiced their support for the Trump administration’s proposed definition of "waters of the United States" (WOTUS) during roundtables hosted by the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy in Denver on March 27 and Tampa on April 4. The roundtables were held to collect feedback from small businesses on the proposed rule. As an independent voice for small business within government, the Office of Advocacy will include the feedback from builders and developers in comments it submits on the WOTUS rule, which are due April 15.
The administration's revisions to the regulatory definition of WOTUS have been well-received by the home-building industry, with local NAHB members expressing their support and providing valuable feedback throughout the rulemaking process. At the roundtables, NAHB members explained the improvements of the proposed rule and its treatment of tributaries, ditches, and adjacent wetlands compared to prior rules.
Members who participated in the roundtables included:
- Jeff Keeley, senior associate at Craft Companies (HBA of Metro Denver)
- Chris Stiegler, senior environment scientist at WRA Engineering (Tampa Bay Builders Association)
- Everett Morrow, PE, president of Landmark Engineering & Survey Design (Tampa Bay Builders Association)
- Michael Piendel of Pulte Homes (Tampa Bay Builders Association)
- John Goolsby, director of environmental sciences at Clearview Land Design (Tampa Bay Builders Association)