MANHATTAN (CN) - Nine U.S. states and the Province of Manitoba say the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency violated the Clean Water Act and undermined its chief purpose: to reduce water pollution. The state says the EPA's "National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Water Transfers Rule" tramples on congressional intent by allowing polluted water to be transferred from one place to another without permits.
Plaintiffs are the States of New York, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Washington, and the Government of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.
Defendants EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson signed the Rule on June 9 and it was published in the Federal Register on June 13.
The states say Johnson illegally gave exemptions from permitting requirements required by the Clean Water Act.
Similar lawsuits against the EPA have been filed in Florida.
Lead attorney in this case is New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, supported by the attorneys general from the other states.
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