President Donald Trump on Sunday announced a plan to end a rule proposed by President Barack Obama that aimed to protect smaller bodies of water than originally were targeted under the 2016 Water Supply Act, The Hill reported.
Farmers have said the Obama changes went too far, putting too much federal oversight on very small amounts of water running through their farms.
"I am proud to announce that I am taking another step to protect the water rights of American farmers and ranchers," Trump said Sunday at the American Farm Bureau Federation conference in Austin, Texas. Farmers are a key constituent group who he has reached out to following trade issues with China that have seen many of them suffer.
"I am directing the Corps of Engineers to immediately withdraw the proposed rule," Trump said, "and allow states to manage their water resources based on their own needs and based on what their farmers and ranchers want."
Added Trump: "Water is the lifeblood of agriculture and we will always protect your water supply."
The announcement is expected to angered environmentalists, who have said previous rollbacks on environmental regulations have caused harm to water and air quality and are contributing to climate change.
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