Native Plant Conservation Campaign News: New York Times: “52 Environmental Rules on
the Way Out Under Trump”
October 11, 2017
In an
October 6 article, the New York Times presents an analysis showing the broad scope of the more than 50 scientific and environmental laws and regulations that have been or are in the process of being overturned by the Trump administration.
Rules overturned include the so called
Waters of the United States Rule which clarified that Clean Water Act protections extend beyond lakes and rivers to small streams and wetlands.
Economists estimate in the Journal Science that this landmark 2015 rule would have protected drinking water for more than 100 million people and would have generated up to $570 million per year in economic benefits through protection and restoration of riparian
ecosystem services.
In addition, numerous mining, clean air, clean water, and climate protections have been or are being eliminated. The Trump administration has also reduced or withdrawn Endangered Species Act protection for a number of federally listed species, including
at least two plants.
In a related story, the
Washington Post has reported on internal Department of the Interior discussions on striping requirements for scientific review of environmental impacts of roadbuilding, mining, logging and other projects on publicly owned federal lands.
