State officials and environmental groups are pushing back on the Trump Administration’s proposal to rollback federal oversight of some streams and wetlands.
In statements filed this week before the end of the public comment period, both the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Department of Environmental Quality voiced strong opposition to the proposed rollback of part of the Clean Water Act.
Nick Occhipinti is with the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. He said the rollback of the regulation, known as the Waters of the United States, could be devastating.
“We’re looking at, by some estimates, 50% of Michigan’s wetland would lose protections under the proposed rule by the Trump Administration.”
Occhipinti said the rollback of protections could mean increased pollution or even bulldozing in some wetlands without any way to stop it.
“When these lose protection some of these could actually be destroyed: plowed over, excavated, fill dumped in them.”
But, Occhipinti said he was heartened by the state’s response.
“Wetlands protect the public from flooding, they just offer so many benefits to the public. The DNR and DEQ comments really got that and they delivered that to the Trump Administration so very happy with them.”
In their response on the proposed change, officials with the DNR wrote that the change appears “inconsistent with the stated goals of the Clean Water Act and will not protect the nation’s water resources.” They added that they did not see a clearly stated reason, based on sound policy or science, for the change.