The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers repealed the 2015 Obama-era Rule that clarified the definition of “Waters of the US” (WOTUS). Waters that are included in WOTUS receive protection under the Clean Water Act. The settings for the announcement say it all: EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler made his announcement at the National Association of Manufacturers. The Administrator for EPA Region 6, in Dallas (which includes New Mexico), made his announcement at the Dallas Builders Association. The NM Environment Department estimated that up to 96% of New Mexico’s surface waters could lose protection under the proposed new definition. Amigos Bravos and the Law Center offered extensive comments on the proposed Rule change in April. Read our press release on the repeal.
Website Emails
- NM Environmental Law Center & NukeWatch NM Denounce LANL’s Resumed Plans for Radioactive Tritium Releases
- Can’t Keep Up: EPA rolls back regulations during pandemic, shifts burden to states, tribes
- New Mexico Environmental Law Center Welcomes New Executive Director and a New Era in Environmental Justice
- Community-Based, Environmental and Civil Rights Activists Across Country Issue Statement and Unified Demands
- New Mexico Groups Appeal EPA’s Dirty Water Rule