DeSantis’ Big Bet on Florida’s EPA Takeover Isn’t Paying Off

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, determined to untangle housing, mines, and other development from time-consuming environmental reviews, asked the Trump administration in its closing months to let the state take over permits for building on federal wetlands from the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers.

Allowed under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act but only done by two other states, the takeover was a big bet that states can both streamline development and better control water pollution than the federal government can. It has provided an early window into how DeSantis might view environmental regulation as president if he decides ...