Trump's & Pruitt's Assault on the Environment Begins with Clean Water Rule

In an explicitly stated attempt to place economic interests above the environment and safe drinking water, the President and his new EPA director began the process to roll back an Obama-era environmental protection rule.

The Trump administration is moving to roll back an environmental rule intended to define which small bodies of water are subject to federal authority under the Clean Water Act.

President Trump signed documents Tuesday directing the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to review the Obama administration's "Waters of the United States" rule. In doing so, Trump said he is "paving the way for the elimination" of the rule.

Opponents of the rule argue it places an undue burden on farmers, requiring farmers to secure special permits. However, former EPA administrator Ellen Gilinsky argues that these claims are exagerated.

She says the rule actually reduced the number of ditches that would require permits and that both farmers and ranchers have numerous exemptions.

"I really think there's a lot of blood shed over this rule that didn't need to be," Gilinsky says. "I think there's an opportunity to take another look at it and bring everyone to the table and get a rule everyone can feel good about."

The President is particularly focused on this rule because he has personal business interests directly impacted by it and Scott Pruitt has previously sued the EPA over this exact rule.

ACTION: Organizations such as the Natural Resources Defense Coucil, 350.org, the Sierra Club will be fighting hard against this administration.  Read up on their work at their web sites, follow them on Twitter, and give a donation to them or similar groups.  We need environmental groups to be well funded to fight this fight.  Their web sites have concrete ways you can get involved beyond giving them money if this fighting for this cause drives you.

Source: http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/02/28/517016071/trump-aims-to-eliminate-clean-water-rule