EPA Proposes Rule to Return Key Water Protections Power to States
Agency rejects Trump rule that encouraged fossil fuel pipelines
Published Jun 2, 2022
Agency rejects Trump rule that encouraged fossil fuel pipelines
Today the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it would return to states the legal authority to block certain key infrastructure projects that pose a threat to clean water.
This move will restore longstanding state power to protect waterways from infrastructure projects. States’ Clean Water Act Section 401 legal authority has been a key factor in stopping several major fossil fuel pipelines and related dirty energy infrastructure, but was severely limited by a Trump administration rollback.
In response, Food & Water Watch Legal Director Tarah Heinzen released the following statement:
“In recent years, states have wisely used their long-standing legal authority to protect clean water in denying certification for dangerous new fossil fuel projects. The Trump administration’s reckless decision to gut state authority was nothing but a gift to oil and gas polluters at a time when we must leverage every tool available to combat the worsening effects of the climate crisis. It is welcome news that the White House is restoring this common-sense authority to protect our water and our climate.”
Press Contact: Peter Hart [email protected]
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