The Trump administration has officially suspended the Obama-era Waters of the United States rule as part of a process to rescind the rule all together and replace it with a new, industry friendly version. The 2015 rule detailed clean water regulations and limited the use of chemical fertilizers and other pollutants that could seep into small streams, limiting pollution in approximately 60% of the US’ bodies of water. While federal protections existed for large bodies of water, such as the Chesapeake Bay and Puget Sound, the Waters of the United States rule extended the protections to the smaller bodies of water that flow into larger ones, including rivers, waterways and wetlands. The rule was widely contested by rural landowners that make up a significant portion of Trump’s base, and repealing and replacing the rule was a key part of Trump’s campaign.

The Trump administration is working on a new rule that will ensure more lax regulatory requirements for rural landowners, with a draft proposal scheduled for this spring and a new finalized rule later this year.

Source: The New York Times