The Clean Water Rule is on hold across the US after a federal court ruled the guidelines, which aim to protect US streams and wetlands from pollution, are likely illegal.
The Cincinnati-based Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit issued the 2-1 ruling on Friday.
The water rule, authored by the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers expands the reach of the Clean Water Act to protect US streams and wetlands from pollution. It took effect in August; however, the day it was slated to become law across the US a federal judge in North Dakota blocked the water rule from taking effect in 13 states that had sued to stop the regulations.
While the EPA says the Clean Water Rule will make permitting less costly, easier and faster for businesses and industry as it more precisely defines protected waters, industries including agriculture, oil and home-building have said the rule will add additional permitting and regulatory requirements.
Photo Credit: braid of the Snake River in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, via Shutterstock