EPA General Counsel Pick Criticized Agency’s Rules

President Donald Trump’s pick to be the EPA’s top legal counsel is a staunch critic of the Obama-era regulations he could play a crucial role in unraveling.

Matt Leopold, the former Justice Department attorney in line to be general counsel of the Environmental Protection Agency, has accused the Obama administration of overstepping its bounds in issuing broad rulemakings like the Clean Power Plan and the 2015 Clean Water rule, commonly known as Waters of the U.S., or WOTUS.

If confirmed, Leopold, currently a partner in Carlton Fields Jorden Burt, P.A.'s Tallahassee, Fla, office, would lead EPA’s team responsible for shoring ...