New EPA Head Tells Employees To 'Avoid Abuses' In Regulating Process
Scott Pruitt gave his first speech to Environmental Protection Agency employees Tuesday.
LEARN MORETrump Takes Aim At EPA Water Regulations With New Executive Order
The executive order directs EPA administrator Scott Pruitt to replace the Obama-era Waters of the United States rule.
Trump Takes Aim At EPA Water Regulations With New Executive Order
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
February 28, 2017
"We want clean water, and there are certain things that you want to do. But to do that, you don't have to destroy our country and destroy our businesses," then-candidate Donald Trump said during a campaign rally.
In keeping with his campaign trail pledges, President Trump is targeting more Obama-era environmental regulations with another executive order.
But the executive order doesn't actually do anything — at least, not yet.
The order basically directs Environmental Protection Agency administrator Scott Pruitt to review a 2015 rule known as the Waters of the United States rule.
The rule marks out which rivers, streams and wetlands the agency is able to regulate. Several business groups said the rule was federal overreach and economically damaging.
Pruitt can't just throw out the water rule, though — he'll have to create a new rule to take its place. And that process could take years.
And Pruitt's new rule might be affected by an ongoing Supreme Court case against the Obama administration's rules. That case could resolve some legal ambiguity over what waters the EPA is allowed to regulate.
Residents sue Louisiana parish to halt polluting plants
The lawsuit says the St. James Parish council approved the construction of several factories that emit harmful amounts of toxic chemicals.
2:14
Navajo Nation fights for water access in front of Supreme Court
Navajo Nation was left out of Colorado River allocations as western states fight over its resources. Now they're fighting for reassignments.
US demands chemical plant immediately reduce cancer-causing emissions
Department of Justice officials filed a motion to order a company to immediately reduce harmful emissions of chloroprene, a likely carcinogen.
Top Stories
0:28
Google launches artificially intelligent chatbot 'Bard'
Google has opened a waitlist for users to begin interacting with Bard, an AI tool similar to OpenAI's ChatGPT technology.
Japan wins, Ohtani strikes out Trout to close World Baseball Classic
The World Baseball Classic came to a dramatic conclusion on Tuesday as two current MLB teammates faced each other for the tournament's final out.
6:06
Donald Trump awaits decision from Manhattan grand jury
Former President Donald Trump was not arrested on Tuesday as he predicted, but grand jurors are still weighing whether to indict him.
