On June 19, a federal judge in San Francisco denied a bid by a coalition of 18 Democratic state attorneys generals to put the regulation on hold nationwide, ruling that the plaintiffs didn't show they had a strong enough chance of winning their challenge to the Navigable Waters Protection rule to warrant a preliminary injunction. The rule goes into effect today.

On April 9, Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, introduced the Water Quality Certification Improvement Act of 2019 (S. 1087). The legislation is cosponsored by Senators Steve Daines (R-MT), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Mike Enzi (R-WY), and Kevin Cramer (R-ND). Rep. David McKinley (R-WV) will be introducing a companion bill in the House.

The 2019 National Water Policy Fly-In, held April 3-4, during Water Week 2019, was a great success! Thank you to the nearly 300 attendees who participated in the highest levels of policy advocacy before Congress and the Administration.

Efforts to delay implementation of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule were invalidated by lower court. Last year, the Trump administration attempted to delay the rule for two years. But this effort was rejected by several district court judges, who ruled that the administration did not follow proper procedures to suspend the implementation of an existing regulation. The administration appealed, but on March 8 announced it would drop its challenges in federal appeals courts the 4th and 9th Circuits.

On Feb. 19, Supreme Court Justices agreed to hear a case over how to regulate groundwater pollution. 

On Feb. 6 at an event in Georgia, EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler and Assistant Administrator for Water David Ross highlighted the Trump Administration’s efforts to accelerate investments in infrastructure and technology in an effort to improve America’s water quality. In an announcement, EPA said they are “seeking to modernize the agency’s water quality trading policies to leverage emerging technologies and facilitate broader adoption of market-based programs”.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee is preparing for a confirmation vote on Feb. 5 to move forward on elevating  Acting-EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler to agency administrator.  Wheeler has served as Acting Administrator since July 2018, when then-Administrator Scott Pruitt resigned. On Jan. 16, the EPW Committee held a confirmation hearing for Wheeler.

On Jan. 24, a Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee spokesperson confirmed a confirmation vote will be held on February 5 for Acting-EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, who President Trump nominated on Jan. 9 to head the agency. Wheeler has served as Acting Administrator since July 2018, when then-Administrator Scott Pruitt resigned. Wheeler needs confirmation by the full Senate to be elevated to the Administrator position.

On Jan. 23, a bipartisan group of House lawmakers, led by Reps. Dan Kildee (D-MI) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) unveiled a House task force to address perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS. The chemicals have been used to manufacture nonstick and stain-resistant coatings in clothing, fast-food wrappers, carpets, and other consumer and industrial products. The task force will work to raise the profile of cleaning up pervasive chemicals in our water supplies, as well as educate House members and staff on the latest science and regulatory changes to curb the chemicals.

On November 16, President Trump announced that he plans to nominate Andrew Wheeler, acting head of the Environmental Protection Agency, to be the EPA Administrator.