Items Tagged with 'WOTUS'

EPA's proposed rule would limit scope of water quality challenges under federal law by states and tribes, reverting to pre-Biden era language to expedite approvals of key infrastructure projects—but with environmental risks, opponents say.

Agencies say rule would clarify decades of confusion over wetlands and bodies of water that require federal permits, which could potentially damage them.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to reconsider existing regulations for pollution cleanup, water discharge and air emissions limits while gutting internal diversity efforts and environmental justice programs for already hard-hit communities.

Doug Burgum, Republican governor of North Dakota, is named to lead a planned new National Energy Council of all sector federal regulators, while others are tapped for top posts at energy, transportation and environmental agencies.

Construction groups and environmental advocates both criticize the final "waters of the United States" rule that will open to development thousands of wetland acres formerly protected.

Justices ruled unanimously that two Idaho landowners, in their second appeal before the court, should not be fined for building near wetlands that did not appear to have a direct surface connection to a larger body of water—but four cautioned in a separate opinion that the majority went too far in reducing federally protected areas.

All sides are waiting for a U.S. Supreme Court ruling by the end of June in a big Clean Water Act case.

Override of the veto faces exceptionally long odds of securing two-thirds majorities in both houses of Congress.

Opponents of the resolution probably will be unable to override a promised Biden veto.

EPA and Corps of Engineers seek clarity in rule release, but some industry groups question the move with a key related US Supreme Court case decision still ahead.