July 13, 2020
See https://www.courthousenews.com/epa-limits-states-power-to-review-projects-that-affect-water-quality/ for the full article.
“The “Clean Water Act 401 Certification Rule” narrows what issues state and tribal governments may consider when determining if a project, such as one that involves discharging pollution into a river or stream, will comply with state water quality standards. State or tribal approval is a prerequisite for obtaining a federal permit under the Clean Water Act
The rule will affect the permitting and relicensing process for natural gas pipelines, hydropower plants, wastewater treatment plants, wetlands developments and other industrial projects.
Mere hours after the final rule was published Monday, a coalition of conservation groups filed a federal lawsuit in the Northern District of California to block it.”