Great Falls Tribune: Farm, conservation groups disagree over Trump’s water order
Conservation groups in Montana criticized President Donald Trump for directing federal agencies Tuesday to roll back a rule implemented under the Obama administration that expanded the scope of waters falling under the federal Clean Water Act. They argued Trump’s move is a backward step that could lead to pollution of seasonal streams and wetlands. Business and farm groups, who viewed the Obama-era rule as federal overreach, unnecessary and burdensome, agreed with Trump’s executive order. Here’s the issue: In April 2014, the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposed the Clean Water Rule, which defined the scope of ‘‘waters