The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers have released a proposal that would repeal the 2015 Clean Water Rule. Set in place under President Obama, the Trump administration is seeking to reinstate the original wording of the rule, which outlines what waterways are controlled by the federal government. The proposal is designed to "return power to the states and provide regulatory certainty to our nation's farmers and businesses", according to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. In an interview with Fox News on Wednesday, Pruitt said he was not aware of any studies showing how much water could be lost if the rule were repealed.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers have released a proposal that would repeal the 2015 Clean Water Rule. Set in place under President Obama, the Trump administration is seeking to reinstate the original wording of the rule, which outlines what waterways are controlled by the federal government. The proposal is designed to "return power to the states and provide regulatory certainty to our nation's farmers and businesses", according to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. Environmentalists have spoken out against the legislation, which could impact progress for clean drinking water in the Midwest.