Trump Removes Pollution Controls on Streams and Wetlands

Authored by nytimes.com and submitted by Wagamaga
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“I terminated one of the most ridiculous regulations of all: the last administration’s disastrous Waters of the United States rule,” he told the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual convention in Texas on Sunday, to rousing applause.

“That was a rule that basically took your property away from you,” added Mr. Trump, whose real estate holdings include more than a dozen golf courses. (Golf course developers were among the key opponents of the Obama rule and key backers of the new one.)

His administration had completed the first step of its demise in September with the rule’s repeal.

Mr. Trump’s replacement, called the “Navigable Waters Protection Rule,” finishes the process. It not only rolls back key portions of the 2015 rule that had guaranteed protections under the 1972 Clean Water Act to certain wetlands and streams that run intermittently or run temporarily underground, but also relieves landowners of the need to seek permits that the Environmental Protection Agency had considered on a case-by-case basis before the Obama rule.

It also gives President Trump a major policy achievement to bring to his political base while his impeachment trial continues.

“Farmers coalesced against the E.P.A. being able to come onto their land, and he’s delivering,” said Jessica Flanagain, a Republican strategist in Lincoln, Neb. “This is bigger news for agricultural producers than whatever is happening with the sideshow in D.C.,” she added.

oldbastardbob on January 23rd, 2020 at 13:14 UTC »

I am a farmer and have some input to share. I have no problem with the Waters of the US regulations. Conservation minded and environmentally responsible farmers aren't doing anything to violate those rules in the first place.

The idea that this was somehow bad for farmers was sold by the Republican party and Farm Bureau. It would effect CAFO's and in my opinion that is a good thing. Once again, many CAFO's are responsible and operate in a environmentally friendly manner, however, the large corporate operations put profit ahead of all else and fight all regulations.

And, of course, those big chemical manufacturers don't want to be held responsible if their products wind up in the creek.

Luize0 on January 23rd, 2020 at 12:40 UTC »

This is the point where you read a headline and you can guess the country.

mrgreggery on January 23rd, 2020 at 09:14 UTC »

Donald Trump — “Climate change is a big scam for a lot of people to make a lot of money.”