WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Wednesday the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers finalized their actions to broaden the federal government’s authority to regulate waters under the Clean Water Act.
Following the announcement, House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry Chairman, U.S. Rep. Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (PA-05), issued this statement:
“The Obama Administration reaffirmed their intentions to unilaterally expand their federal authority by finalizing the Waters of the United States Rule, despite strong bipartisan opposition from Congress, farmers, ranchers and state and local governments.
“While I agree the statutory boundaries of the Clean Water Act must be more defined, this regulatory action does not move in that direction, but rather creates far more problems than the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers claim it would solve.
“Although the Administration has taken this action, I remain committed to solving these challenges through the legislative process, in order to provide appropriate oversight and rein in this power grab.”
On May 12, the House of Representatives passed, with Thompson’s support, H.R. 1732, the Regulatory Integrity Protection Act of 2015, which would require the agencies to withdraw the controversial rule and consult with state and local governments in redrafting a new rule.
Additionally, in March, Thompson’s House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry, held its second hearing to review the proposed rule and its potential impacts upon rural America.
During the hearing, expert witnesses provided testimony that indicated the Obama Administration had ignored input from the states and stakeholders in order to broaden the scope of the Clean Water Act.
