Presidential Determination Concerning the Department of the Air Force's Rehabilitation and Revitalization of the Joint Base Andrews Golf Course

This determination exempts the Air Force's Joint Base Andrews golf course rehabilitation from federal, state, and local water pollution controls for one year under Clean Water Act Section 313, citing 'paramount interest of the United States.' The exemption runs from June 26, 2026, to June 26, 2027, but explicitly preserves requirements under 33 U.S.C. 1316 (water quality standards) and 1317 (toxic and pretreatment effluent standards).

Federal Register Open PDF 91 FR 40351

Impact dates

Jun 26, 2027
Exemption expires
Jun 26, 202655d ago
Exemption takes effect
Jun 26, 202655d ago
Secretary of the Air Force to publish in Federal Register

Key directives

Exempt all effluent sources associated with golf course rehabilitation from federal/state/local water pollution controls
Exemption effective June 26, 2026 through June 26, 2027
Preserve 33 U.S.C. 1316 and 1317 requirements
Secretary of the Air Force to publish determination in Federal Register

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Exemption takes effect June 26, 2026
Secretary of the Air Force directed to publish in Federal Register

Near term (90d)

Golf course rehabilitation work proceeds under exemption from standard water pollution permitting/oversight

Long term

Exemption expires June 26, 2027; project must comply with preserved 1316/1317 standards throughout; potential precedent for future Section 313 exemptions

Risks & tensions

Narrow 'paramount interest' rationale for golf course rehabilitation is unusual and may invite scrutiny; Section 313 is rarely invoked
Preserved 1316/1317 requirements create compliance tension—exempted from permitting but still subject to water quality and toxic effluent standards
Potential precedent for using national security/military infrastructure framing to bypass environmental review for non-combat facilities
Local and state environmental authorities lose oversight role for one year