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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will announce Thursday the final plan to redefine and thereby reduce waterways to be protected by law, a move likely to be quickly challenged legally by environmentalists.
Final plans to repeal the 2015 Obama era US Water Law (WOTUS) rule would prevent the federal government from regulating pollutants in wetlands and tributaries that feed in major rivers .
EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler
Andrew WheelerOvernight Energy: Democratic Party blames BLM leader for headquarters move | The EPA takes steps to end the use of animal testing | A senior NOAA official defends Trump against Alabama's forecasts The EPA is taking a big step forward to end animal testing. Rifts of a watchdog EPA response to the dangers of lead paint PLUS told the Washington Post that the plans would completely eliminate the previous definition of the rule, relegating the protection of waterways to 1986 standards.
"Today we have a patchwork across the country," Wheeler told the post. "We must adopt a uniform regulatory approach."
Wheeler said the agency will announce a new definition of water masses that are expected to remain protected by the federal government over the next few months.
The agency is expected to officially announce the rule Thursday afternoon. Wheeler has scheduled a "major announcement on water policy" at the headquarters of the National Association of Manufacturers. The trade group lobbied for the revocation of WOTUS.
The Obama rule initially aimed to clarify that small streams, such as ponds and springs, can be protected by the EPA. But agriculture, developers, and other industries have complained about its over-reach and the fact that large tracts of land are subject to federal oversight. Ecologists believe that the rule is essential because the small waterways end up flowing in large. They say the rule is also needed to protect drinking water sources from contamination.
President Trump
Donald John TrumpOnly: Congress can end the quagmire of the Chinese trade war Trump bluffing Bolton: "He has made some very big mistakes" Trump calls for the ban on flavored electronic cigarettes MORE makes promises to dismantle the rule as soon as he takes office. A decree of February 2017 urged the EPA to take steps to "eliminate this extremely destructive and horrible rule".
The EPA under the former administrator Scott Pruitt
Edward (Scott) Scott PruittThe Morning's Morning Report – Gillibrand gives up as the number of debates dwindles Increasingly, scientists are opposing the EPA's "secret science" proposal of Trump to exclude some research Controversial, EPA duo leaves Washington began to show signs of dismantling WOTUS when Pruitt suspended the enforcement of the settlement for two years in early 2018, promising to rewrite it to "reduce confusion and give certainty to farmers and ranchers." of America ".
The EPA first announced its intention to repeal WOTUS last winter.
In August, two Republican senators introduced a bill asking Congress, instead of the EPA, to define which waters should be regulated by law. The bill proposed by Sens. Joni Ernst
Joni Kay ErnstErnst asks Congress to fix "in camera" social security. The 2020 caucuses are the biggest challenge so far for Iowa's biggest pollster, Bill Maher, says he is "happy" that David Koch has died. (R-Iowa) and Mike Braun
Michael BraunConflicts in the Senate GOPs fear a conflict with the NRA Democrats play on Trump's ego on guns Congress faces a sprint to avoid a new stop MORE (R-Ind.) Would significantly reduce federal power over water.
Court rulings in 28 states have prevented the full implementation of WOTUS in the United States.
Wednesday's repeal should only be the first step towards the administration's decision to fully replace the rule later this year.
Environmental groups are already threatening to prosecute the repeal.
"The EPA misleads the public by claiming that this regulation simply repeals the 2015 water quality rule," said Kelly Foster, a lawyer for the Waterkeeper Alliance, in a statement.
"The truth is that this is an illegal attempt to reinterpret the long-standing regulatory definition of eliminating pollution control requirements for rivers, streams, wetlands and other waters. in place since the 1970s.
Brett Hartl, Director of Government Affairs at the Center for Biodiversity, said the group had the intention to fight against dismantling.
"This administration has shown only disdain for the natural heritage of the United States and the wildlife we cherish," Hartl said in a statement.
"We will fight against this illegal collapse and against all aspects of Trump's extremely harmful anti-environmental program."
Updated 11:30
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