Groups urge lawmakers to protect state water reviews in permitting talks

Environmental advocates are pushing back on a top Republican priority in ongoing energy permitting reform negotiations.

Nearly 60 national and regional groups sent a letter Wednesday to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee opposing legislation to restrict the ability of states and tribes to review the water quality impacts of pipelines, dams and other infrastructure.

Top Republicans and the Trump administration have argued that a provision in the Clean Water Act — Section 401 — has been abused by blue states to slow down or block energy projects.

And right now, Environment and Public Works Chair Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and ranking member Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) are working on a broad permitting reform deal that could limit such state scrutiny.