"An EPA advisory panel has finalized a striking rebuke of the Trump administration's revamped Clean Water Act rule, saying critical elements are not adequately based on science.

Trump's EPA in January issued its Navigable Waters Protection Rule, which revises the definition of "waters of the United States," or WOTUS, clarifying which streams, wetlands and marshes warrant federal protections.

The rule is significantly narrower in scope than one issued by the Obama administration, and it is sure to be met with lawsuits once published.

EPA's Science Advisory Board (SAB) said some of the changes are not sufficiently based in science."

Jeremy P. Jacobs reports for Greenwire March 4, 2020. [2]