The Trump administration is taking another stab at defining which waters qualify for Clean Water Act protections, seven months after unveiling a proposal that officials said would provide the “final word” on one of the most contentious and litigated environmental regulations.
EPA on Tuesday sent a proposed supplement to its “waters of the U.S.” definition to the White House for review, signaling that the administration is amending some aspect of its original proposal from November.
Jess Kramer, EPA’s assistant administrator for water, said the goals of the rule — which is being drafted along with the Army Corps of Engineers — remain the same as before.
“EPA and the Army are on a path to finalize a durable definition of ‘waters of the United States’ that fully adheres to the Supreme Court’s direction in Sackett, cuts bureaucratic red tape, and protects water quality while recognizing that states and Tribes know their water resources best,” Kramer said in a statement.
