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The administration of President Donald Trump proposed yesterday (December 11) to reinterpret the Clean Water Act such that the legislation protects fewer streams and wetlands from pollution, E&E News reports.
It is doing this by redefining the Waters of the United States rule to exclude so-called ephemeral streams—those that flow only after rainfall and snowmelt—and wetlands not adjacent to or connected by surface water to other bodies of water. A 2015 rule announced by President Barack Obama specified that these ephemeral streams would be protected. Some of the wetlands in question were also protected under Obama and President George W. Bush. According to E&E, environmental groups argue for the protection of some ephemeral streams because when they do flow, they can carry pollution into other water sources.
“Saying you want clean water and excluding ephemeral streams is like saying you want universal health care, but you ...
