According to the Competitive Enterprise Institute, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Thursday announced the repeal of the Obama administration’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. EPA is expected to announce a replacement rule for WOTUS later this year.
The repeal of WOTUS is welcome news for America’s true conservationists – its working landowners. ranchers, farmers and woodland owners will breathe easier now.
“America’s private landowners, especially its working landowners, are best positioned to be stewards of this country’s wildlife because they own most of the habitat, live on the land and are extremely committed its stewardship,” said Brian Seasholes, executive director of the Southwestern Communities Coalition. “This is a great step toward revamping federal jurisdiction in favor of common-sense regulations.”
“Final repeal of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule is great news for rural Americans,” said Myron Ebell, Director of CEI’s Center for Energy and Environment. “Many fewer farmers and land owners will be kept up at night worrying that their land will be commandeered by the federal government.
“However, getting rid of this massive Obama-era land grab is only the first step. Federal jurisdiction of wetlands under the Clean Water Act was already out of control before the previous administration took office. We look forward to the EPA’s next rule, which we hope will reform federal jurisdiction of wetlands in accordance with both federal laws and the Constitution.”
