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The EPA is proposing changes that would reduce state and tribal authority to object to federal water permits, a power that has traditionally allowed them to protect local water quality. This move coincides with efforts to expedite copper-nickel mining projects, including the NorthMet Mine.

The EPA argues that the changes will enhance permitting efficiency, though critics, including Minnesota, warn that it undermines environmental protections. The agency has also proposed a new 'Waters of the United States' rule that limits protected waterbodies, raising concerns about state rights in the permitting process.