OLYMPIA, Wash. – Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced on Friday, October 22nd, that a federal court has vacated a Trump Administration rule that limited states’ abilities to protect water quality.
In July, Washington State co-led a coalition with 19 other states in filing a lawsuit against the new Trump-imposed rules involving section 401 of the Clean Water Act.
The rule would have forced states to issue permits based on an incomplete review of what impact industries will have on waterways, as well as limiting the amount of information industry had to provide.
In a statement, Ferguson said, “Today’s ruling stopped one of Trumps most egregious attempts to strip states’ ability to protect their communities against threats to water quality.”
The Trump administration implemented the rule claiming farmers appreciated it and the regulations were too stringent.