Trump Administration Moves to Limit State Power to Block Pipelines, Energy Projects Under Clean Water Act

The Trump administration is advancing revisions to Clean Water Act regulations that would limit state and tribal authority over waterways, particularly concerning major energy projects such as oil and gas pipelines, export terminals, and hydropower dams. This move targets Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, which currently requires state or tribal water-quality certification for projects that could result in pollution to navigable waterways.