Nevada, Western states challenge new federal water rules

Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt is joining 12 other states in pressing a lawsuit against new federal agency rules that could expand powers over state and local water sources.

Laxalt announced on Monday that Nevada is joining several other Western states in filing a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The suit claims that the new rule would grant federal agencies authority over small ponds, generally dry small streams and irrigation ditches. Laxalt said in a statement that the complaint was in response to “unreasonable federal overreach.”

Gov. Brian Sandoval said in a statement that he authorized Laxalt to join the suit after finding the rule ignored requests made by state-level water authorities.