Republican-led states sue EPA over WOTUS rule

A group of two dozen Republican-controlled states is suing the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over the Biden administration's Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule that the group is calling an overreach that could end up harming ranchers, farmers and homeowners.

On Dec. 30, EPA and the U.S. Department of the Army announced a final rule establishing a durable definition of WOTUS to reduce uncertainty from changing regulatory definitions, protect public health and support economic opportunity. The final rule restores protections that were in place prior to 2015 under the Clean Water Act that the agencies say bring the nation closer to achieving the goal that American waters be fishable, swimmable and protective of public health. The agencies added the action will strengthen fundamental protections for waters that are sources of drinking water while supporting agriculture, local economies and downstream communities.