South Dakota has joined a coalition of 20 states asking the Environmental Protection Agency to respect state’s rights when rewriting the Waters of the U.S. Rule. South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley says states are in a better position to protect the environment and water, as well as businesses.

He says as a former state attorney general, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt understands the issues brought up by the coalition regarding WOTUS.

Jackley says their coalition wants the EPA to define precisely what waters of the United States are and to recognize state’s roles in protecting the environment.

Jackley says when EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt was Oklahoma’s Attorney General he worked quickly to get things done. While he expects the same type of response in his new job, he says Pruitt has a long list of federal rules to work through.