--- title: "Twenty-Seven States, Including South Carolina, Initiate Challenges to EPA’s Clean Water Rule" canonicalUrl: "https://wyche.com/insights/blog/posts/twenty-seven-states-including-south-carolina-initiate-challenges-to-epas-clean-water-rule/" excerpt: "EPA’s Clean Water Rule, which defines “waters of the United States” that fall within Clean Water Act jurisdiction, was published in the Federal Register on June 29 and already faces numerous tests.  Twenty-seven states, including South Carolina, have initiated challenges to the Rule. As of July 1, the roster of challengers includes: Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana (U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas) Ohio and Michigan (U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio) Montana, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming (U.S. District Court for the District of North…
Read More" datePublished: "2015-07-02T16:03:45-04:00" dateModified: "2024-05-24T16:06:03-04:00" --- - Twenty-Seven States, Including South Carolina, Initiate Challenges to EPA’s Clean Water Rule [Home](https://wyche.com/) » Twenty-Seven States, Including South Carolina, Initiate Challenges to EPA’s Clean Water Rule [** Rita Bolt Barker](https://wyche.com/author/rbarker/) ** ** ** # Twenty-Seven States, Including South Carolina, Initiate Challenges to EPA’s Clean Water Rule [EPA’s Clean Water Rule](https://wyche.wpengine.com/insights/blog/post/final-clean-water-rule-issued/), which defines “waters of the United States” that fall within Clean Water Act jurisdiction, was published in the [Federal Register on June 29](https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-06-29/pdf/2015-13435.pdf) and already faces numerous tests.  Twenty-seven states, including South Carolina, have initiated challenges to the Rule. As of July 1, the roster of challengers includes: - Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana (U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas) - Ohio and Michigan (U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio) - Montana, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming (U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota) - Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, South Carolina, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin (U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia) Explaining why South Carolina joined the ranks of states challenging the rule, the state’s [Attorney General Alan Wilson explained](https://www.postandcourier.com/article/20150701/PC16/150709921/1177/state-looks-to-block-new-federal-clean-water-rules): “The EPA’s proposed expansion would bring many roadside ditches, small ponds on family farms, water features on golf courses, and storm water systems under extremely burdensome federal regulation.” The Clean Water Rule is scheduled to become effective August 28. [*](https://wyche.com/author/rbarker/) [## Rita Bolt Barker](https://wyche.com/author/rbarker/) Rita Bolt Barker is an experienced litigator and counselor, focusing primarily on environmental, commercial litigation, and insurance coverage matters. RELATED ARTICLES [](https://wyche.com/insights/blog/posts/wyche-welcomes-top-tier-associate-austin-coward-to-its-litigation-practice-group/) ### [Wyche Welcomes Top-Tier Associate Austin Coward to Its Litigation Practice Group](https://wyche.com/insights/blog/posts/wyche-welcomes-top-tier-associate-austin-coward-to-its-litigation-practice-group/) COLUMBIA, SC (February 10, 2026) – Wyche, a full-service law firm with offices across South Carolina, is pleased to announce the addition of Austin Coward [](https://wyche.com/insights/blog/posts/thirty-seven-wyche-attorneys-named-to-2027-best-lawyers-lists/) ### [Thirty-Seven Wyche Attorneys Named to 2027 Best Lawyers Lists](https://wyche.com/insights/blog/posts/thirty-seven-wyche-attorneys-named-to-2027-best-lawyers-lists/) GREENVILLE, SC (August 20, 2026) – Best Lawyers® has recognized 37 Wyche attorneys for 2027. Four Wyche attorneys were named “Lawyer of the Year” in their [* View All](https://wyche.com/insights/news-stories/) ## Stay in Touch Join one our mailing lists and receive regular updates! [Subscribe to Updates](/subscription) ## Contact Us * * Send Message - [Our Philosophy](https://wyche.com/our-philosophy/) - [Unique Culture](https://wyche.com/our-unique-culture/) - [Client Service](https://wyche.com/wyche-difference/) - [Global Reach](https://wyche.com/global-reach/) - [Careers](https://wyche.com/careers/) - [Locations](https://wyche.com/locations) - [Centennial](https://wyche.com/wyche-100/) [Linkedin **](https://www.linkedin.com/company/wychepa/) [Facebook **](https://www.facebook.com/wychepa?ref=hl) [Instagram **](https://www.instagram.com/wychepa/)