Trump Moves to Deny Americans Clean Water

WASHINGTON – The Trump administration is expected today to eliminate critical protections for streams, wetlands and other water bodies at risk from pollution by repealing the Clean Water Rule.

The final rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers would repeal a commonsense regulation—developed after years of scientific study—that ensures the 47-year-old Clean Water Act would apply to waterways and wetlands that are important to the health of larger rivers, lakes and estuaries.

The following is a comment from Jon Devine, director of federal water policy at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC):

“The Clean Water Rule represented solid science and smart public policy. Where it has been enforced, it has protected important waterways and wetlands, providing certainty to all stakeholders.

“The Trump administration’s wild-eyed attempts to reward polluters, however, knows no bounds, so it is repealing these important protections without regard for the law or sound science. This unsubstantiated action is illegal and will certainly be challenged in court.” 

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The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.​