Can Trump deliver on immense energy, climate promises?
Troutman Sanders partner Brooks Smith was quoted in two Greenwire articles on Nov. 14 and Nov. 16 regarding expected energy and environment policy changes under President-elect Donald Trump. "I think the Clean Water Rule is dead, but it will need to be replaced with something that provides the kind of certainty and clarity and predictability that was supposed to come with the rule and really didn't," said Smith, who currently represents Murray Energy Corp. in ongoing challenges against the rule. Smith added that the repeal process could begin before the litigation ends, and that "This is too high a priority to let it pass.” Smith also said, "I think there's general consensus that this is such an important demarcation of federal power that it needs to be formal, it needs to be a rule," and that if WOTUS dies, there could be intermediate guidance or a policy for regulators on the ground while EPA and the Army Corps work on a new rule.