The Trump administration is set to reduce the number of federally regulated waterways protected under the U.S. Clean Water Act in a bid to help the energy and agriculture industries, according to a media report on Friday.

 

The Environmental Protection Agency will propose altering the definition of what qualifies as “Water of the United States” under the regulation to remove streams that flow only after rain and wetlands unconnected to larger waterways, news outlet E&E reported, citing a document.

 

The change could open the door to additional pollution in some water bodies from industries including oil drilling, mining, and agriculture by removing them from federal oversight.

 

The E&E report said the EPA would make the proposal on Tuesday. An EPA official was not immediately available for comment.

 

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