"The Trump administration's bid to restrict the Clean Water Act's reach over streams and wetlands is backed by an analysis showing the proposal wouldn't reduce environmental benefits when it comes to dredging and filling waterways.

Key to lessening the rule's impact on water quality is the assumption that 29 states "may" or are "likely" to bolster dredge and fill regulations as federal oversight retreats.

Among eight states the administration says "may" strengthen regulations is North Carolina. That assumption springs from wetlands legislation that a Democratic-led General Assembly passed 18 years ago — ancient history in light of the Republican takeover of the Legislature in 2010.z"

Ariel Wittenberg reports for Greenwire January 21, 2019. [2]