EPA Announces Final Rule to Protect Water Quality Where Tribes have Treaty and Reserved Rights

Summary:

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a final rule to better protect Tribal reserved rights under the Clean Water Act. The rule aims to strengthen federal trust responsibility by establishing clear and consistent water quality standards that account for local conditions and Tribal rights. The agency will revise federal water quality standards to provide a regulatory framework that respects Tribes' reserved rights to hunt, fish, and gather in their usual and accustomed territories. The rule will enhance cooperation between EPA and Tribes to ensure that water quality standards are developed and enforced in a manner that respects Tribal sovereignty and cultural practices. The final rule is expected to improve water quality and support the long-term health of Tribal communities and the environment.