Trump admin revamps Biden-era water rule that caused pricey permits for landowners

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin on Monday announced that he has rolled back a Biden administration extension of the Clean Water Act that threatened American landowners with pricey permits.

The Biden administration extended the reach of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule under the Clean Water Act, which was passed in 1972, to give federal jurisdiction over wetlands that could include ephemeral streams.

The EPA said its latest actions clarify the WOTUS rule and make good on the Trump administration's promise to provide clarity on regulatory actions while still protecting America’s waterways, according to Fox News.

"Another victory for common sense! The Trump EPA just released a new proposed definition of 'Waters of the United States' that, if finalized, would deliver the clarity farmers, ranchers, and landowners have been begging for," Zeldin posted on X. "This definition follows the Supreme Court ruling in Sackett, advances cooperative federalism, and protects America’s waterways."

The Supreme Court ruling refers to the high court's decision in 2023 that "Only ... wetlands and waters that have a continuous surface connection to bodies that are waters of the United States in their own right."

The EPA said it held nine listening sessions with Americans who were impacted by the Biden-era definition of the rule, and that its new rule will define regulatory terms like "relatively permanent" when it comes to waterways and align the scope of the rule with the Nixon administration's original intent.

"Democrat administrations have weaponized the definition of navigable waters to seize more power from American farmers, landowners, entrepreneurs, and families," Zeldin told Fox News. "We heard from Americans across the country who want clean water and a clear rule. No longer should America’s landowners be forced to spend precious money hiring an attorney or consultant just to tell them whether a Water of the United States is on their property."

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.