November 28, 2016
By:
Walter G. Wright
Category:
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law
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Five members of Congress sent a November 21st letter to President-elect Donald Trump addressing the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Corp of Engineers (collectively “EPA”) 2015 final rule defining the Clean Water Act term “Waters of the United States” (“WOTUS”).
The authors of the letter include:
- United States Senator Joni K. Ernst;
- United States Senator Chuck Grassley;
- David Young, United States Congressman;
- Rod Blum, United States Congressman;
- Steve King, United States Congressman.
The EPA WOTUS rule has obviously been a subject of considerable discussion for the past few years. The opposition has included various members of Congress. However, prior to the recent election, the focus of both the WOTUS opposition and supporters has been challenges to the WOTUS rule in the courts.
The November 21st letter is an indication that opponents are seeking elimination of EPA’s 2015 revisions through administrative action by the new Administration.
The Congressmen asked the President-elect in the November 21st letter to:
…do everything within your power as Chief Executive to stop this harmful rule in the initial days of your Presidency.
They also ask that the President-elect:
…direct your EPA to craft a common-sense rule that clarifies the scope of the CWA and does so by taking into consideration the input from all stakeholders.
A copy of the November 21st letter can be downloaded here.
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