The Environmental Protection Agency finally released its long awaited “Waters of the US” rules this week. The rewrite expands and clarifies many of the water rules first laid out in the Clean Air act released in the 1970s.

South Dakota Senator Mike Rounds says they have been going over the rules and are concerned with some definitions that could affect lakes in the state…

 

Rounds says it looks like the EPA wants to expand its permitting authority…

 

Rounds says there are some normal farm practices that have been left out of the rules…

 

Supporters says increasing traces of everything from nitrates to prescription drugs in water show the need for tighter rules.