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  1. Home
  2. CWA Section 401 Certification

Outreach and Engagement

On this page:

  • Overview
  • Recent Engagement Efforts
  • Previous Engagement Efforts

Overview

EPA conducts outreach and engagement efforts to ensure effective implementation of CWA Section 401.

Recent Public Engagement 

On July 1, 2025, the agency announced a Federal Register notice initiating a series of stakeholder listening sessions and a 30-day recommendations docket inviting written feedback on regulatory uncertainty or implementation challenges associated with the Clean Water Act Section 401 certification process as defined in the 2023 Rule.

  • Press Release
  • CWA 401 Notice (Pub Date: July 7, 2025; Public Comment Period: July 7 through August 6, 2025)
  • Docket (ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2025-0272).

The Agency hosted two webinar-based listening sessions on July 16 and 30, 2025, to solicit feedback on the questions identified in the Federal Register notice. These sessions were open to States, Tribes, project proponents, and the public. The background slides presented during the public listening sessions are available in the Resources box to the right. 

Additionally, EPA accepted written feedback on regulatory uncertainty or implementation challenges related to the 2023 Rule for 30 days (July 7 through August 6, 2025). Written feedback on the notice can be viewed in Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2025-0272.

Resources

Public Listening Session Presentation (pdf) (1.03 MB)

Previous Engagement Efforts

EPA has conducted several outreach and engagement efforts on CWA Section 401. Below are example webinars EPA conducted on the regulatory requirements in 2023.

  • General Public Webinar (Video | Slides) (Recorded on September 26, 2023)
  • Section 401 & Treatment in a Similar Manner as a State (TAS) Webinar (Video | Slides) (Recorded on October 17, 2023)
  • Certifying Authority Webinar (Video | Slides) (Recorded on September 28, 2023)
  • Federal Agency Webinar (Video | Slides) (Recorded on October 3, 2023)

Related Information

CWA Section 401 Overview | Section 401 Regulatory Requirements | Technical Assistance Resources | Resources for when EPA serves as the Certifying Authority | Resources for the Neighboring Jurisdiction Process

CWA Section 401 Certification

  • CWA Section 401 Certification Overview
  • CWA Section 401 Regulatory Requirements
  • Outreach and Engagement
  • Technical Assistance
  • Resources for when EPA acts as the Certifying Authority
  • Resources for Neighboring Jurisdiction Process
Contact Us about CWA Section 401 Certification
Contact Us about CWA Section 401 Certification to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on August 7, 2025
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