Waters of the United States Rule

Big Flat, California

What Is the Clean Water Act?

The primary environmental law to regulate water pollution in the United States, the Clean Water Act, went into effect 50 years ago, on October 18, 1972.

October 30, 2022 - James Brasuell

A wooden sign on the side of a road welcomes visitors to Priest Lake in Idaho.

Manchin’s Permitting Bill, Supreme Court Case Could Dramatically Alter the Clean Water Act

The future of the Clean Water Act could look much different after fossil fuel interests and the Supreme Court done with it.

September 28, 2022 - The Washington Post

Coast Stream

Judge Tosses Trump Administration's Rollback of 'Waters of the United States' Protections

The Trump administration's Navigable Waters Protection Rule was sloppy, and it would have done "serious environmental harm," according to a recent court ruling.

September 5, 2021 - The Washington Post

The San Pedro River where it passes through Saint David, south of Benson, Arizona.

Army Corps Rescinds Permits for Massive Master Planned Community in Arizona

A plan to conjure 28,000 new homes from the landscape fed by the San Pedro River in Southern Arizona is once again on the wrong side of regulators.

July 12, 2021 - Arizona Republic

Andrew Wheeler

Trump Finally Comes for the 'Waters of the United States' Rule

The Trump administration is finally delivering on a promise to rescind the Waters of the United States act enacted during the Obama administration to expand the reach of the federal Clean Water Act.

January 23, 2020 - NPR

Flask Flood

Trump's Clean Water Rule Change Reduces Protection for 93% of Arizona Water

Most of Arizona's arroyos fall into the relentlessly contested grey area created by the 1972 Clean Water Act.

December 21, 2019 - Arizona Public Media

The San Pedro River where it passes through Saint David, south of Benson, Arizona.

Clean Water Rule's Repeal Could Have Consequences for Sprawling Development in Arizona

A recent decision by the Trump administration regarding the Waters of the United States Rule is changing the legal calculus of a plan to add 28,000 homes in the city of Benson, located southwest of Tucson.

September 24, 2019 - Arizona Republic

Morrison Spring, Walton County, Florida

Trump Administration Rolls Back Clean Water Protections

Environmentalists worry that the latest action by the Trump administration on the environment will set a dangerous precedent that is difficult to overturn with a more conservative Supreme Court.

September 13, 2019 - The New York Times

Mountain Waterfall

Comments Closed for Significant Changes to 'Waters of the United States' Rule

The Trump administration has spent the first two years of its time in office trying to overturn key provisions of the "Waters of the United States" rule.

April 16, 2019 - KJZZ

Bay Area Wetlands

EPA and Army Corps of Engineers Propose Revision of Wetlands Definition

Fulfilling a promise he made as a candidate, the Trump administration proposed a redefinition of what is classified as a wetland, with the result being the loss of federal protection of millions of acres of waterways and wetlands.

December 14, 2018 - NPR

Kayaking

Federal Judge Liberates the Obama Era Clean Water Rule

The Trump administration cannot legally delay the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule, according to a ruling by a federal judge this week.

August 17, 2018 - Pacific Standard

Protecting the Environment

Breaking News: Supreme Court Rebukes Trump on Clean Water Rule

One of those Obama-era regulations that President Trump promised to ease is the Clean Water Rule, currently tied up in federal appeals court. The Department of Justice had asked the Supreme Court to discontinue the litigation.

April 3, 2017 - E&E News [Subscription]

Scott Pruitt

EPA Administrator Transitions from Climate Change Skeptic to Denier

Perhaps there never really was much difference between 'skepticism' and 'denial'. Scott Pruitt certainly proved that on Thursday when he answered CNBC's Joe Kernen's question if carbon emissions are the primary cause of climate change.

March 13, 2017 - CNBC

Trump

Trump Targets Obama's Signature Environmental Rule, the Clean Power Plan

The first environmental regulation to be rescinded under President Trump was the Stream Protection Rule. It will not be the last. The president has his eyes on a rule that limits greenhouse gas emissions from existing power plants.

February 23, 2017 - The Washington Post

Climate Change Removed from White House Website

Well, that didn't take long! Goodbye Obama Clean Action Plan and restrictive environmental regulations; hello shale oil and gas revolution.

January 22, 2017 - Planetizen

Clean Water Rule Finalized—Clarifies Protection of Streams and Waterways

The Obama Administration has moved forward with "one of the most controversial environmental regulations in recent years."

May 27, 2015 - The Hill

Battle Over Federal 'Clean Water Rule' Heats Up

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers have drafted a new Clean Water Rule to clarify the regulatory powers of the Clan Water Act. In response, some members of Congress authored opposing legislation.

May 7, 2015 - NRDC Switchboard

Golf Joins Agriculture to Oppose EPA's Proposed 'Water of the United States' Rule

Laura Barron-Lopez reports on the golf industry's reaction to proposed rules that would expand and clarify the regulatory powers of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers.

September 11, 2014 - The Hill

The L.A. River, Navigability, and the Future of Watershed Development

Planetizen's Assistant Editor Nate Berg investigates the impact of recent court decisions on the Los Angeles River, and how it may affect development on the watersheds of rivers and waterways across the country.

July 21, 2008 - Nate Berg

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