Federal environmental protection shrinks for some wetlands and streams

The US environmental regulators are shrinking the definition of waters they protect under federal law. This means fewer federal permits are needed to build on or alter certain wetlands and streams.

For decades, federal law protected a broad range of wetlands and streams from pollution and development. This new definition means many of those areas will no longer require federal permits. Landowners will find it easier to build or farm on these lands, but states and tribes will now bear the full responsibility for their protection.