EPA makes it harder to protect wetlands - AP

Source: Associated Press

EPA makes it harder to protect wetlands

By H. JOSEF HEBERT, Associated Press Writer
Tue Jun 5, 6:08 PM ET

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration made it harder Tuesday
for non-permanent streams and nearby wetlands to be protected
under the federal Clean Water Act.

The new guidance issued by the Environmental Protection Agency
and the Army Corps of Engineers requires that for such waters
to be protected there must be a "significant nexus" shown
between the intermittent stream or wetland and a traditional
waterway.

And the guidance says a determination will be made on a case-
by-case basis, analyzing flow and other issues. Environmentalist
argued that would negate the broader regional importance of many
such waterways in the aggregate on water bodies downstream.

Assistant EPA Administrator Benjamin Grumbles said the new
guidance to regional offices and enforcement officials "sends a
clear signal we'll use our regulatory tools" to meet President
Bush's promise of no net loss of wetlands.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070605/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/wetlands

We'll need WAY more agency involvement under these rules.