This week, the Environmental Protection Agency published the final rule repealing the 2015 Waters of the U.S. Rule. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s Chief Environmental Counsel Scott Yager says they’re pleased to see the first phase of that repeal completed as it’s been something they’ve been fighting against for at least half a decade.

He says the repeal goes into effect in December with finalization of the new WOTUS rule also due out that month.

Yager says there are waters that fall under the Clean Water Act that should be regulated, however some of those listed in the 2015 WOTUS were smaller waters that shouldn’t be regulated.

Yager says activists are expected to challenge both the repeal and the new WOTUS rule and it’s likely to eventually come up before the U.S. Supreme Court.