The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) is pressing for clear rules as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under Administrator Lee Zeldin, moves to redefine “waters of the United States,” or WOTUS, a key term that dictates which rivers, streams and wetlands fall under federal Clean Water Act jurisdiction.

The proposal seeks to bring federal oversight in line with the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 Sackett v. EPA ruling and end years of shifting interpretations that manufacturers say have slowed projects and investment.

OMA and national partners have long demanded a practical, predictable WOTUS standard. In December 2024, the group joined a manufacturing coalition letter urging regulators to modernize rules they argue are stifling growth.

“As the EPA revises the rule, the OMA will continue advocating for a final definition that protects water resources while supporting expansion and job creation in Ohio’s manufacturing sector,” said James Lee, OMA managing director of public policy services. 11/19/2025