Trump Administration Finalizes WOTUS Rule

On April 21, 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corp of Engineers issued the final “Navigable Waters Protection Rule,” defining the scope of waters federally regulated under the Clean Water Act. The rule revises the definition of “waters of the United States” or “WOTUS” to limit the number of wetlands and waterways that would receive federal protections. The final rule removes protections for ephemeral streams that flow only after heavy rainfall or snowmelt but retains protections for streams and creeks that flow year-round or intermittently into larger downstream waters in a “typical year.” The rule also takes away protections for wetlands without surface water connections to intermittent or perennial streams. The rule maintains protections for territorial seas and traditional navigable waters; some lakes, ponds, and impoundments; and wetlands adjacent to traditionally navigable waters. The Administration first unveiled the final rule back in January 2020, but its implementation was on hold until publication in the Federal Register. The new regulation will go into effect on June 22, 2020. EPA’s Science Advisory Board (SAB) have criticized the revised rule for not incorporating the “best available science.” In commentary released in February 2020, the panel concluded that the “current scientific understanding of the connectivity of surface and ground water” is not refle...
Source: Public Policy Reports - Category: Biology Authors: Source Type: news