Arizona environmentalists are protesting private meetings among state officials to discuss new state regulations to protect streams and wetlands. The advisory board was created by Arizona environmental regulators and is comprised of city representatives, water suppliers, environmental nonprofits, developers, and others. Those not in attendance said that industry is over-represented and may have disproportionate influence that would work against protecting streams and wetlands.
Environmentalists warn that the new Navigable Waters Protection Rule may cause Arizona to lose protections for more than 90 percent of its water bodies, which could potentially fast-track development and mining projects. Arizona is not one of the states currently participating in a lawsuit against the Trump administration regarding the rollback of certain Clean Water Act rules because the state has supported rollback, despite environmental opposition. Read more in this report from the Arizona Republic.
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