Wednesday, December 4, 2024

After California’s Driest Year in a Century, Attorney General Secures District Court Decision Restoring State’s Clean Water Act Authority

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The following is a press release issued by the Office of California Attorney General Rob Bonta:

A dry Lake Mendocino [Picture from Michael McKay]

California Attorney General Rob Bonta today secured a decision by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California that vacates a Trump-era rule that unlawfully curtailed state authority under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act. For nearly five decades, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) consistently acknowledged and respected that Section 401 provides states with the broad authority to approve, impose conditions on, or deny certification for federally permitted projects in order to ensure these projects comply with state laws. After the Trump Administration promulgated a rule restricting this state authority, California, Washington, and New York led a multistate coalition in a lawsuit challenging the rule. 

“As the state records its driest year in nearly a century, Californians are acutely aware of the value of water and its critical importance to sustaining our communities, ecosystems, and agriculture,” said Attorney General Bonta. “We’re pleased that the District Court agreed to vacate this unlawful Trump-era rule and restore California’s authority under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act. State agencies rely on Section 401 to safeguard our precious resources by ensuring that federal projects meet the state’s robust water quality requirements.”

In today’s decision, the District Court vacated the rule, highlighting the rule’s numerous deficiencies, including the illegal narrowing of the scope of state certifications, the lack of reasoned agency decisionmaking, and that the rule contravenes the structure and purpose of the Clean Water Act. The court’s decision vacating the rule will avoid the significant environmental harms that would have resulted if the rule remained in effect.  

A copy of the decision can be found here.

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1 COMMENT

  1. That is why we need the Covelo dam, the water can go east or west. generate power. support tourists, fishing, an all water sports.
    Fill her up. do it now. extend rails to trails to the dam. that is why we need more liberal supervisors, to complete such a meager task.

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Matt LaFever
Matt LaFeverhttps://mendofever.com/
For the past seven years, Matt LaFever has covered the North Coast of California in both print and radio news. A Humboldt State graduate, he has lived in the Emerald Triangle for nearly 20 years. His reporting spans local issues like crime and wildfires. When not writing, Matt is an avid outdoorsman, exploring Northern California’s rugged landscapes. Reach out to him at matthewplafever@gmail.com.

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