EPA prepares to shed contentious Waters of the U.S. interpretation

Waters mood

Construction and business interests welcomed a late-2018 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of the Army proposal for a clear, understandable, and implementable definition of “Waters of the United States,” clarifying federal authority under the Clean Water Act. Unlike a 2015 definition that drew sharp criticism from construction materials producers and their customers, the new proposal a) contains straightforward wording that results in significant cost savings; b) protects the nation’s navigable waters; helps sustain economic growth; and, c) reduces barriers to business development.

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‘Back-to-Basics’ EPA agenda clouds myriad Obama regulations

Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; CP staff 

A Pennsylvania coal mine was the backdrop for EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt’s announcement of an agency agenda true to Trump administration objectives. “Back-to-Basics means returning EPA to its core mission: protecting the environment by engaging with state, local, and tribal partners to create sensible regulations that enhance economic growth,” he affirmed.

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