Originally published here
Washington, DC – Today the Trump administration finalized its proposal to add an “applicability date” to the 2015 Clean Water Rule, effectively delaying implementation of the rule until 2020. The Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers is carrying out this action before the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals withdraws its nationwide stay of the Clean Water Rule in response to last week’s U.S. Supreme Court unanimous decision that pending litigation on the rule belongs in federal district courts.
This means, despite the fact the Clean Water Rule should have gone into effect in 37 states once the 6thCircuit Court lifted its nationwide stay of the Rule that had prevented implementation, EPA will not protect the drinking water sources for 1 in 3 people. Instead, EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers will continue their reckless plan to suspend the Clean Water Rule in order to propose a less protective standard later this year.
Clean Water Action President and CEO Bob Wendlegass released the following statement:
“EPA has the opportunity to provide clarity to stakeholders and protect drinking water, but President Trump and Scott Pruitt are throwing it away. They are leaving protections for water in limbo while they pursue their special interest powered agenda. A responsible administration that truly cared about the well being of the American people would have acted as quickly as possible to ensure streams and wetlands are again protected from polluters and developers.
Instead, the Trump administration is showing it would rather rig the system against clean water and public health. This outrageous delay threatens the livelihoods of families, businesses, and communities that rely on streams, wetlands, and the drinking water sources the Clean Water Rule is meant to protect.”
###
Since our founding during the campaign to pass the landmark Clean Water Act in 1972, Clean Water Action has worked to win strong health and environmental protections by bringing issue expertise, solution-oriented thinking and people power to the table. We will protect clean water in the face of attacks from a polluter friendly Administration and Congress.
Press Contacts
Michael Kelly
mkelly@cleanwater.org
202-895-0420 x 103
Recent Comments