EPA Sends WOTUS-Replacement Rule to Budget Office for Final Review

The Environmental Protection Agency sent to the Office of Management and Budget for final review the new Trump Administration rule that would replace the Obama-era Waters of the United States rule. ILTA, working with a broad industry coalition called the Water Advocacy Council (WAC) has been actively lobbying for this outcome.

The Obama rule, which was vigorously opposed by agricultural groups, homebuilders and other industry interests who dubbed it federal overreach, was repealed in September by the Trump administration. The repeal is already facing court challenges, both from environmental groups that supported the 2015 rule and from property rights activists. 

The replacement rule the Trump administration proposed last December would dramatically reduce the number of streams and wetlands that are granted federal protections. It would mark the most significant rollback of the Clean Water Act since it passed in 1972. The EPA said it expects to finalize the rule in January.