U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Deb Fischer (R-NE) have introduced a resolution that “expresses the need to vacate” the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, enacted in May 2015.
WOTUS expanded the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers under the Clean Water Act (CWA) and was highly and almost universally criticized in the agriculture industry as a prime example of federal government overreach.
“This rule would hurt all Nebraskans: families, communities, ag producers and businesses,” said Senator Fischer. “This resolution signifies our intent to quickly get to work to stop WOTUS in its tracks once the new administration takes office.”
Senator Ernst called WOTUS a “power grab” and wants farmers, landowners and others to be able to manage their land “without the heavy hand of the EPA determining their every move.”
Fischer and Ernst acknowledge the Clean Water Act as vial to protecting water resources, but they contend that WOTUS goes too far and violates the CWA’s original intent.
