Los Angeles Times

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Several states sued the Trump administration Tuesday to challenge its decision to suspend the 2015 clean water rule aimed at protecting lakes, rivers and streams from pollutants.

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said the lawsuit alleges the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers acted without authority in suspending the rule, did not provide a rational explanation and did not provide required notice and opportunity for public comment.

The 2015 rule provided a broader definition of waterways to be protected.

“The Trump administration should be doing everything in its power to keep our water clean, to protect our environment,” Becerra said in a statement. “Instead, it has decided to suspend the Clean Water Rule with cavalier disregard for our laws and deliberative process.”

The lawsuit was filed in federal court in New York. Besides California, other plaintiffs are the states of New York, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia.