The Economic Impact
to Colorado
Colorado Governor Jared Polis & Attorney General Anthony Weiser in a comment letter to the US Army Corp of Engineers and the EPA regarding the Federal Rules stated:
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"Establishing its own permitting program for fill activities would require that the state of Colorado amend the Colorado Water Quality Control Act, promulgate new regulations, and appropriate millions of dollars for new permitting and mitigation programs. Until Colorado does all this—which would take years and is far from certain—fill activities cannot occur in waters that are only subject to Colorado (as opposed to federal) jurisdiction. The proposed narrowing of waterbodies subject to federal jurisdiction for water quality purposes, therefore, creates a “gap” where certain development/infrastructure activities will simply not be able to take place."
- (April 15, 2019 Letter Providing State of Colorado Comments on Revised Definition of “Waters of the United States,” Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW- 2018-0149, Page 9 of 26.)
As predicted by the Colorado Governor and Attorney General above, the Colorado Department of Health and Environment has requested supplemental funding of $495,805.00 for 2021 and ongoing appropriation of $842,721 per year going forward. This is an unnecessary and wasteful spending of tax payer's dollars to provide the CDPHE funding for oversight of the Army Corps of Engineers' jurisdiction.
