OPINION:
When a county can’t repair a bridge or when a town can’t upgrade a water system, most of us assume it’s a problem with funding or planning. And lots of times that’s the case. But what about when the planning is done, the funding’s in place, and the only step left is a permit? Too often, that’s where the process stalls.
Too often, we find out the problem comes from delays in Washington. Communities across Colorado know the work that needs to get done, but bureaucratic delays stand in the way. It should not take years of waiting to move forward on projects that are essential to our safety, economy, and way of life. That has to change.
In many cases, projects meant to protect, restore, or responsibly use these waters are held up by significant permitting delays. Under the Clean Water Act, many infrastructures, flood control, stormwater, and conservation projects must receive permits or jurisdictional determinations from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. These determinations decide whether land or water is regulated, who can build where, and how wetlands are impacted.
This alone is not a problem. Actually, they can be an important safeguard. Permits and jurisdictional determinations are vital for regulating quality standards for surface waters and play a central role in maintaining the health of our water. The problem stems from the Corps facing a backlog of thousands of pending cases. Until those determinations are processed, projects cannot move forward. That means communities are left waiting, sometimes for years on end.
In Colorado’s Third District, these delays come with real-life consequences. Job creation and infrastructure investments are put on indefinite hold. Water storage and treatment projects are stalled. Bridge repairs are postponed. Floodplain protections are left undone. Farmers, ranchers, rural communities, and small towns are forced to absorb higher costs and missed opportunities. It doesn’t have to, and can’t, stay like that.
That is why I introduced the Jurisdictional Determination Backlog Reduction Act. This bill requires the Corps to allocate the resources needed to clear the backlog and process future applications in a timely manner. It does not weaken environmental protections or change the standards of the Clean Water Act. It simply ensures timely decisions so communities, both here in Colorado and across the nation, can get to work.
Whether it is repairing a rural bridge in Delta County, improving irrigation in the San Luis Valley, or advancing a water storage project on the Western Slope, our local communities should not have to wait forever while paperwork piles up in Washington. The Corps has a responsibility to provide answers, and Congress has a responsibility to hold agencies accountable when they fail to deliver.
Colorado families, farmers, and small businesses are resourceful and resilient. They are ready to move forward. Forcing them to wait endlessly on red tape serves no one. My bill to clear the Corps’ permitting backlog is about respecting their time, their money, and their future. Keeping projects on track helps keep costs under control and keeps communities strong. Many of these projects are not wants, but needs of the community.
Colorado values its water, its landscapes, and its way of life. Protecting our waterways is integral to who we are. With this bill, we can both safeguard our environment and give communities the certainty they deserve. It is time to clear the backlog and let people get back to work. The Corps must act, and it’s our job in Congress to ensure they do.
• Rep. Jeff Hurd represents Colorado’s 3rd district, one of the most stunning and diverse regions in the country. He serves on three key House committees: Natural Resources, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Science, Space and Technology.
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