Embattled Waters of the U.S. to be Redefined for Agriculture – Again
In April, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan told Congress he did not intend to return to the Obama administration’s definition of Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS).
On Wednesday, he made good on that declaration, announcing via a press release that EPA and the Department of the Army plan to revise the definition of WOTUS to “better protect our nation’s vital water resources that support public health, environmental protection, agricultural activity, and economic growth.”
The announcement means the agencies are also setting aside the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR) – the most recent regulatory definition of WOTUS – which was confirmed and put into effect just less than a year ago on June 22, 2020.
“He made clear during his confirmation hearing that EPA would seek – that was his word – to undo the Trump-era revisions to the Obama administration's Waters of the U.S. rule,” recalls Jim Wiesemeyer, Pro Farmer Washington analyst, of Regan's comments. "He didn't fully commit to reinstating the Obama standards without change, but he didn’t punt that issue off. He gave a clear signal (EPA) would want to review it and go back into some parts of the (NWPR).”
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On Wednesday, he made good on that declaration, announcing via a press release that EPA and the Department of the Army plan to revise the definition of WOTUS to “better protect our nation’s vital water resources that support public health, environmental protection, agricultural activity, and economic growth.”
The announcement means the agencies are also setting aside the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR) – the most recent regulatory definition of WOTUS – which was confirmed and put into effect just less than a year ago on June 22, 2020.
“He made clear during his confirmation hearing that EPA would seek – that was his word – to undo the Trump-era revisions to the Obama administration's Waters of the U.S. rule,” recalls Jim Wiesemeyer, Pro Farmer Washington analyst, of Regan's comments. "He didn't fully commit to reinstating the Obama standards without change, but he didn’t punt that issue off. He gave a clear signal (EPA) would want to review it and go back into some parts of the (NWPR).”
Click Here to read more.