In the US, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has approved bipartisan legislation to require the withdrawal of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers.
“The Administration’s process was flawed from the beginning, and it’s no surprise the result is a proposed rule that broadly expands federal power,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Bill Shuster (R-PA), sponsor of the legislation. “This bill gives the agencies another chance to do what they should have done in the first place – work together with states, local governments, and stakeholders to actually develop a rule that provides clarity, maintains a balanced regulatory approach, and considers potential economic impacts on Americans.”
“This proposed rule, if implemented, will jeopardise the workings of the Clean Water Act,” said Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Bob Gibbs (R-OH), cosponsor of the bill. “Today the Transportation Committee took action to stop implementation of this rule that will have a negative impact on water quality.”
The WOTUS rule would increase the federal government’s power to regulate waters and adjacent lands. Last year, the Portland Cement Association said that the rule would increase the number of operating and pre-construction permits for the cement sector and broader construction economy, among other regulatory burdens.
Adapted from press release by Katherine Guenioui