By Ian James | Arizona Republic
For now, the sloping grasslands at the base of the Whetstone Mountains are dotted with mesquite trees, cactuses and grazing cattle. But as he looked out over the property from a rocky knoll, developer Mike Reinbold said he’s optimistic the land will soon be transformed into a Tuscan-themed development called Villages at Vigneto, with thousands of homes, a resort and golf courses.
Reinbold said even though environmental groups are suing to challenge a federal dredge-and-fill permit, he’s confident their suit will fail now that the Trump administration has announced the repeal of a 2015 clean water regulation. The measure, known as the Waters of the United States rule, was put in place by the Obama administration and expanded the federal government’s authority to regulate wetlands, streams and washes that flow seasonally with rainfall.
