The Trump administration has lifted a 6-year-old ban on the sale of disposable water bottles in national parks, handing a policy victory to the International Bottled Water Association, The Washington Post recently reported.

The Obama-era ban was enacted to cut down on pollution in parks. But in an Aug. 16 statement, the National Park Service announced it was discontinuing the ban "to expand hydration options for recreationalists, hikers, and other visitors to national parks." The agency said the ban "removed the healthiest beverage choice at a variety of parks while still allowing sales of bottled sweetened drinks."

The Post noted the statement's talking points mirrored IBWA's arguments in its advocacy campaign to overturn the ban. The decision also came three weeks after the U.S. Senate confirmed David Bernhardt as deputy interior secretary. Bernhardt is a former lobbyist whose firm represented Nestle Waters, one of the largest water bottlers in the U.S.

IBWA spokeswoman Jill Culora told the newspaper that the agency's decision recognized the important role bottled water plays in helping people stay hydrated while visiting national parks.

"Consumption of water in all forms—tap, filtered and bottled—should always be encouraged," she said. http://wapo.st/2x9peBN

MORE CEO DATELINE

• Associations urge preparation for solar eclipse
• Outdoor Power Equipment Institute purchases new headquarters
• Clean energy coalition to downplay climate change in upcoming campaign
• Business groups applaud failure of Texas bathroom bill
• Business, agriculture groups urge caution in NAFTA talks