News

WOTUS announcement expected this week

The EPA reportedly plans to reduce the number of federally protected waterways when it releases a revised Waters of the U.S. rule later this week.

Media outlet E&E News says it obtained talking points from the agency that propose a new definition of WOTUS that would erase federal protections from streams that flow only following rainfall, as well as wetlands not physically connected to larger waterways.

Speaking to Brownfield at the Minnesota Cattle Industry Convention in Alexandria Friday, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association president-elect Jennifer Houston says she expects an announcement soon.

“We’ve been dealing with zombie WOTUS (and) I think we’d all like to quit talking about WOTUS.  But I think there’s good news on the horizon from what we hear.”

Ag and energy groups have criticized the Obama-era rule, calling it government overreach.  The Trump Administration has been working to repeal and replace WOTUS for more than a year.

WOTUS has been tangled up in litigation for months after a federal District Court Judge in South Carolina ruled with environmentalists that EPA suspended the rule without seeking public comment on its substance or implications.  WOTUS is currently in effect in 26 states.

 

Add Comment

Your email address will not be published.


 

Stay Up to Date

Subscribe for our newsletter today and receive relevant news straight to your inbox!