Hatch Joins Top Lawmakers in Opposing Controversial Waters of the U.S. Rule
Washington, DC—U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the top Republican on the Subcommittee on Oversight, Federal Rights and Agency Actions, joined several other top Republicans in submitting comments on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers' (Corps) proposed rule regarding the definition of "waters of the United States" (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act.
"EPA and the Corps must abandon the proposed Waters of the United States rule. It presents a grave threat to Americans’ property rights, and its finalization will force landowners throughout the country to live with the unending prospect that their homes, farms, or communities could be subject to ruinous Clean Water Act jurisdictional determinations and litigation," wrote the Members.
In the letter, the Members emphasized that the proposed WOTUS rule presents serious federalism concerns since it would call for an extra-constitutional relationship between the federal government and the states in the regulation of local land-use matters.
The proposed WOTUS rule would significantly increase the amount of private property subject to federal control, including timberland, farmland, and innumerable waterbodies and other private lands. Finalizing the rule would allow the federal government to govern virtually any activity impacting an area where water flows, which means federal government permits would be required for all sorts of routine activities—including installing a playground in a backyard or extending a driveway – and would provide a new litigation tool for far-left environmentalists to attack private citizens and businesses. The public comment period for WOTUS ends on November 14th.
The other Members signing today’s letter include U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee; U.S. Rep. Bob Gibbs, R-Ohio, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment; and U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Ala., Chairman of the Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial, and Antitrust Law; Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee; Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., top Republican on the EPW Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife; and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, top Republican on the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human Rights.
