The Biden administration has released its updated environmental regulation on bodies of water following the Supreme Court's ruling in May.
The agencies acknowledged following the court's ruling while remaining committed to climate change.
Biden admin backs down on key eco regulations after Supreme Court ruling https://t.co/B704TdNCW6
— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 30, 2023
"While I am disappointed by the Supreme Court’s decision in the Sackett case, EPA and Army have an obligation to apply this decision alongside our state co-regulators, Tribes, and partners," EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a statement.
"We’ve moved quickly to finalize amendments to the definition of ‘waters of the United States’ to provide a clear path forward that adheres to the Supreme Court’s ruling," he added.
Keeping pace with a spring Supreme Court decision that slashed protections for U.S. wetlands, the EPA issued a new rule Tuesday that could cut federally protected waters by more than half. @lexandrajones https://t.co/wDUUMDLAwg
— Courthouse News (@CourthouseNews) August 29, 2023
Not everyone was happy with the revised regulations that were not strong enough for those siding with stricter climate change regulations.
"Jim Murphy, the National Wildlife Federation’s director of legal advocacy, said in a statement that the Sackett decision undermines the federal government’s authority to protect wetlands that are responsible for filtering drinking water, absorbing floods, and providing habitat for wildlife," Courthouse News Service reported.
“Congress needs to step up to protect the water we drink, our wildlife, and our way of life. In the meantime, it will be up to the states to fill the gaping hole in water protections created by the Supreme Court,” Murphy said.
The Supreme Court case came as a stinging loss to the Biden administration in May as it pushed back on efforts on behalf of the left's climate change activists.
Conservative justices sided against the Biden regulations, claiming they could only apply to the more narrow definitions of traditional bodies of water.
The case shows the importance of the Supreme Court's decisions in limiting the actions of the Biden administration in a key case related to the environment.
