Rep. Jeff Hurd’s Jurisdictional Determination Backlog Reduction Act has passed the House as part of the Promoting Efficient Review for Modern Infrastructure Today (PERMIT) Act. The PERMIT Act aims to reform Clean Water Act permitting processes by streamlining reviews and reducing regulatory burdens, while maintaining water quality protections.
The Jurisdictional Determination Backlog Reduction Act directs the Army Corps of Engineers to dedicate resources to address a backlog of thousands of pending jurisdictional determinations and Section 404 permit applications. These determinations are essential for farmers, ranchers, small business owners, energy providers, and builders to understand if their projects require Clean Water Act permits. The current backlog has caused delays and increased costs for many projects.
Rep. Hurd stated, “Delays in permit approvals are stalling key infrastructure projects in Colorado and across the nation. My bill requires the Army Corps to clear this backlog so communities can get moving on critical projects without unnecessary delays. I’m proud this important legislation passed with the PERMIT Act today, and I’m grateful to Chairman Graves and Chairman Collins for their leadership on cutting red tape that prevents America from building.”
The legislation will now move to the Senate for further consideration.