"A proposal shared with staffers Wednesday would shrink the reach of Clean Water Act permitting and oversight."
"The Trump administration will soon propose a new Clean Water Act rule that could eliminate federal protections for many wetlands across the U.S., according to an internal EPA presentation obtained by POLITICO’s E&E News.
Under the proposed rule, the federal government would regulate wetlands only if they meet a two-part test: They would need to contain surface water throughout the “wet season,” and they would need to be abutting and touching a river, stream or other waterbody that also flows throughout the wet season, the presentation said.
Fewer wetlands permits would be required under the new language, according to a slide from the presentation, which was confirmed by two EPA staffers who were briefed Wednesday on the rule. Both EPA staffers, who were granted anonymity to avoid retribution, said they believed the proposal was not based in science and could worsen pollution if finalized."
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