Washington Sues To Protect Clean Water Act From Rollback

SEATTLE, WA — Washington has joined New York, California, and 17 other states plus the District of Columbia in filing a lawsuit to prevent the Trump Administration's proposal to change the Clean Water Act.

Adopted in its current form back in 1972, the Clean Water Act guides how America protects its waters from pollution, setting water standards for contaminants and paying for sewage treatment plants to clean up muddied waters. But a new federal regulation, published on July 13, changes the way water is regulated on state and tribal lands, removes select environmental protections, and limits the amount of information big businesses must share with the state about their projects and pollutants. The rule would go into effect starting September 11, but Washington has sued to stop that from happening.

“Instead of protecting the environment, this administration is yielding to polluting industries and undermining a key tool states use to protect their water,” said Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson. “We will continue to advocate for a clean and healthy Washington and confront the powerful special interest groups that dictate this administration’s actions.”

According to a statement from the Attorney General's office, the new rule "forces states to issue permits based on an incomplete review of what effects industries will have on waterways." Washington also claims it dramatically cuts down on the time state's have to make decisions on permitting, and hands too much oversight power to the federal government.

“Washington will not stand idly by as President Trump tries to gut the Clean Water Act and strip states of our ability to protect our families and communities,” said Gov. Jay Inslee. "This rule is an unprecedented assault on the right and obligation of every state to protect our waters, and we will fight to uphold our clear authority under the law."

The suit has been filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. It is now the 69th lawsuit Washington has filed against the Trump Administration.

Read the full statement from the Attorney General's Office here.

Learn the history of the Clean Water Act from the EPA's website here.