Prof. James Coleman Interviewed by Star Tribune About Proposed Changes to Clean Water Act

Professor James Coleman was interviewed by the Minnesota Star Tribune about the Trump administration being poised to roll back the key provision of the Clean Water Act which has allowed states to weigh in on, and sometimes derail, federal water permits. Opponents of the move, including Minnesota, say it could imperil their ability to protect clean water. In opposition to this change, attorneys general of 17 states, including Minnesota, and the District of Columbia have argued the Environmental Protection Agency is bypassing the intentions of Congress and ignoring decades of legal precedent. Prof. Coleman said these changes may backfire for companies wanting faster approvals. If states and tribes feel rushed on EPA’s new timeline, he said, they may simply deny approvals for some projects.