Trump Administration Repeals 2015 WOTUS Rule

On September 12, 2019, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the repeal of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. That rule defined the wetlands and waterways that are protected under the Clean Water Act (CWA). EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler signed a new rule throwing out the prior definition of the regulation and bringing protection standards from 1986 back into effect. The 2015 rule had been blocked in 27 states and was in effect in 22 others. The repeal places all 50 states back under 1986 regulations. “Thanks to the leadership of the EPA we can move forward with a water rule that protects clean water, is within the bounds of the law and doesn’t pose a threat to manufacturing in America,” said Wheeler. According to Wheeler, the repeal was the first step with a revised replacement rule expected by the end of the year. Revisions to the definition of WOTUS were first proposed by the EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in December 2018. After publishing the proposed rule in the Federal Register in February 2019, the agencies invited public comments for a 60-day period. The new definition limits the number of wetlands and waterways that would receive federal protections under the CWA. Under the new proposal, six types of water resources will qualify for federal protections, including traditionally navigable waters, tributaries, impoundments, wetlands adjacent to traditionally navigable waters, some ditches, and some lakes and ponds....
Source: Public Policy Reports - Category: Biology Authors: Source Type: news