The Trump administration has taken a significant step toward undoing a controversial 2015 rule that aimed to clarify the scope of federal authority over rivers, wetlands and other bodies of water. Critics contend the rule too broadly defined federally regulated “waters of the United States” and praised the administration’s plan. Environmentalists supported the 2015 rule and are gearing up to fight the administration’s action.
The U.S. Environmental Protection and the Army Corps of Engineers on June 27 announced a two-part proposal that seeks to rescind the 2015 Clean Water Rule, which brings smaller, state- regulated waterways and wetlands under federal pollution-control jurisdiction.