Important changes may be on the horizon for federal water and environmental permitting rules in the coming years – changes likely to impact real estate, energy, mining and other key industries nationwide. These shifts stem not only from the evolving priorities of a new administration but also from ongoing ripple effects of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 Sackett decision.
At Dawson & Associates, we are proud to offer unparalleled expertise in federal water and permitting policies, supported by a distinguished team that includes 20+ retired US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Commanders, several former USACE attorneys, and senior government civilian leaders who managed USACE regulatory programs. This depth of experience positions us as a trusted resource for leading publications and journalists seeking authoritative insights into complex regulatory issues.
Recently, our colleague Mark Sudol – who led the USACE Regulatory Program before joining Dawson & Associates – provided expert commentary on several high-profile topics of critical importance to industry stakeholders and the regulated public. Below, we highlight a selection of articles that feature his valuable perspectives.
"Trump EPA Pick Seen Supporting PFAS Limits, Revising Water Rules," Bloomberg
Mark Sudol, a former Army Corps of Engineers official who’s now an adviser to environmental permitting firm Dawson & Associates, said Zeldin’s record shows he’ll prioritize private property rights in his approach to wetlands regulations.
Advocates speaking out against wetlands regulations “feel that the Clean Water Act is an intrusion on their private property rights,” Sudol said, adding that he expects Zeldin to increase farmers’ exemptions from WOTUS regulations.
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"Trump Cabinet Picks Would Shift Focus to Fossil Fuel Development," Engineering News-Record
Mark Sudol, a senior advisor at regulatory consulting firm Dawson & Associates, told ENR that he expects a second Trump administration to seek to craft new rules narrowing what U.S. waterways would require federal protection under the Clean Water Act. Currently, numerous lawsuits are challenging the existing rule… with some states using the current federal rule to guide permitting while others are not, he said.
Sudol is formerly chief of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ regulatory program responsible for drafting the Corps’ guidance in federal waterway permitting in response to the “significant nexus” test outlined in the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2006 Rapanos decision….
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"Industry eyes swift changes on wetland permitting under Trump,” E&E News
Mark Sudol, a senior adviser at Dawson & Associates who previously led the regulatory program at the Army Corps of Engineers, said he expects the Trump administration to try to define what constitutes an enforcement action under the Clean Water Act.
“It could be a way to reduce enforcement actions, which may or may not be good or bad,” Sudol said.
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Maj. Gen. Rick Stevens, USA Retired
Senior Vice President
A former Deputy Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rick joined Dawson & Associates in 2018.
The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Dawson & Associates.
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