BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A federal judge in North Dakota says his injunction blocking a new Obama administration rule aimed at regulating some small waterways applies only in the 13 states that sued to block the rule.
U.S. District Judge Ralph Erickson issued his ruling Friday. It was meant to clarify his temporary injunction last week that was requested by North Dakota and 12 other states to stop the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers from regulating some small streams, tributaries and wetlands under the Clean Water Act.
The EPA had maintained that the injunction applied only to the 13 states and said it was beginning to enforce the rule elsewhere. Lawyers for the states argued it applied nationwide.
The states joining North Dakota in the lawsuit are Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, South Dakota and Wyoming.