The Trump administration on Friday proposed further narrowing protections for streams and wetlands under the Clean Water Act. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers issued a supplemental proposed rule that they said would be likely to reduce the bodies of water that are under the Clean Water Act’s jurisdiction if its changes are adopted. It would be expected to reduce the number of waters subject to the Clean Water Act in the West. That means development or pollution in these streams and wetlands would no longer require a permit or potential mitigation. The new changes come on top of an already proposed rule by the agencies that is also expected to narrow the Clean Water Act’s applicability. 

Related:

• Bloomberg Law: EPA revises waters of the US proposal, with focus on drought
• KNX (Los Angeles): EPA seeks more public comments as it struggles to devise water rule that limits scope on wetlands
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: News release: EPA and Army seek additional input on proposed waters of the U.S. definition