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Proposed EPA rules would narrow protection for streams, wetlands under Clean Water Act

on Tue, 11/18/2025 - 19:51   by Anonymous

by Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch
November 17, 2025

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed Monday new rules to define the waters of the United States, or WOTUS, protected under the Clean Water Act. 

The move was celebrated by farm groups that oppose a broad interpretation of the law, while environmental groups said the rule change would end protections for millions of acres of wetlands and small streams. 

Waters of the United States defines the scope of the Clean Water Act and which waters can be regulated with federal water quality standards. The WOTUS definition, which is not laid out in the Clean Water Act, has been the source of several U.S. Supreme Court cases in recent decades, most recently in Sackett v. EPA. 

Environmental groups urge EPA to restore nitrate impairment designation on Iowa river segments

on Wed, 10/15/2025 - 22:26   by Anonymous

by Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch
October 14, 2025

Environmental groups penned a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency urging the federal agency to maintain its previously rescinded ruling that seven segments of Iowa rivers were impaired due to nitrate concentrations. 

The environmental groups said EPA’s decision to delist these segments was “inconsistent” with the law, failed to hold polluters accountable and would lead to increased regulatory costs for water treatment in Iowa. 

The decision from EPA followed a summer with near-record high nitrate levels in the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers near Des Moines and the first-ever lawn watering ban from Central Iowa Water Works on account of the high nitrate concentrations, coupled with summer water demand. 

Dani Replogle, staff attorney for the environmental group Food & Water Watch, called the EPA decision “baseless” and said it “does not inspire confidence in the federal agency meant to safeguard clean water and protect our health.” 

EPA withdraws proposed rule for more stringent water pollution guidelines at slaughterhouses

on Fri, 09/12/2025 - 18:30   by Anonymous

by Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch
September 11, 2025

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has withdrawn a January 2024 proposed rule that would have reduced the discharge of nutrients and pollutants from meat packing plants and slaughterhouses. 

The agency said it chose to withdraw the rules in an effort to prioritize the nation’s food supply and to keep food prices down. 

Trump EPA rescinds Biden-era decision to expand Iowa’s impaired water list 

on Thu, 08/14/2025 - 02:10   by Anonymous

by Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch
August 12, 2025

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has rescinded its previous decision to add seven segments to Iowa’s list of impaired waters due to their high nitrate concentrations. 

In November the agency decided the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ list of impaired waters only “partially” met the requirements of the Clean Water Act to identify waterways with identified pollutants in excess of water quality standards. 

EPA rejects IDNR effort to loosen water quality standards; change pushed by industry lobbyists

on Wed, 02/08/2017 - 01:28   by Editor

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has rejected an effort to loosen water quality protection rules in Iowa, saying proposed changes to "antidegradation standards" sought by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) violate federal rules.

In a letter to the IDNR January 19, the EPA's Region 7 Administrator Mark Hague wrote the state was "seeking to establish a one-size-fits-all rule that only projects costs less than 115 percent of base costs optimize 'the balance between water quality benefits and project costs.' "

EPA cracks down on motorcycle defeat device for muffler emissions; takes aim at aftermarket makers

on Wed, 09/28/2016 - 21:14   by Editor

Residents annoyed and awakened by loud motorcycles might hope the recent federal crackdown on Harley-Davidson for selling equipment to bypass air pollution control units would carry over to aftermarket muffler manufacturers whose products fail to meet either national air pollution or noise standards.

But, don't get too optimistic.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials say they're focused on enforcement of air pollution regulations, not motorcycle noise standards, while Bettendorf police wrote just two tickets for loud motorcycle mufflers over the four-year period 2010 through 2014.

Consequently, motorcyclists with illegal mufflers – two to four times as loud as the federal limit of 80 decibels – operate with impunity throughout the city, often late at night and early in the morning.

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