Trump administration moves to redefine wetlands protected under the Clean Water Act

The Trump administration is taking steps to narrow federal protections for millions of acres of wetlands under a new proposal from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers. On Friday the EPA announced that they were seeking additional input on their proposed "Waters of the U.S." definition. The plan would redefine which waters are covered by the Clean Water Act. Federal protections would generally apply only to wetlands connected to waterways that flow every day, except for brief interruptions. The Trump administration says that this definition can cut bureaucratic red tape and protects water quality. Environmental groups have warned that the proposed changes could harm water quality and wildlife. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV