The Trump Administration’s new and scaled-back Waters of the U.S. rule became law June 22 after last-minute attempts to block it. But a federal judge denied an effort to prevent implementation of the new regulation, which is now called the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR). National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Chief Environmental Counsel, Scott Yager, discusses the NWPR, which went into effect in 49 states.
A federal judge in Colorado rejected the Section 404 permit process included in the new rule, which refers to the Corps of Engineers’ authority to issue permits for the discharge of dredged or fill material into navigable waters. Thus the reason why the rule is at this time, only in effect in 49 states.