US EPA Plans to Undercut State Authority to Protect Clean Water from Pipeline & Other Infrastructure Projects - CleanTechnica

The Trump administration announced a plan to limit the authority of states and tribes in regulating and protecting clean water from pollution caused by pipelines and other major infrastructure projects during the permitting process. This proposal would make it more difficult for these local entities to assess pollution risks and reject projects that could harm water quality before construction begins. The move comes shortly after federal pipeline safety regulators indicated they would take action against oil and gas operators failing to complete required safety work on pipelines. Environmental groups, including the Sierra Club, strongly criticized the plan. Sierra Club’s Beyond Dirty Fuels Campaign Director Cathy Collentine condemned the administration for prioritizing fossil fuel companies’ interests over public health and environmental safety. She emphasized that weakening state and tribal oversight threatens clean water supplies and argued for a shift toward clean, affordable energy sources like wind and solar instead of loosening regulations on oil and gas infrastructure. The Sierra Club, as a leading grassroots environmental organization, continues to advocate for protecting natural resources and promoting clean energy through activism, education, and legal