Berks County News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On May 25, Congressman Dan Meuser released the below statement following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in the case, Sackett v. EPA, curtailing the EPA’s ability to regulate “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act (CWA).

“Thousands of farmers and small businesses in my district are breathing a sigh of relief today thanks to the Supreme Court’s ruling that delivers long overdue clarity to the EPA’s authority to regulate ‘waters of the United States’ under the Clean Water Act,” Meuser said. “Both the Obama and Biden Administrations sought to weaponize the Clean Water Act, particularly through their WOTUS rules, to implement burdensome regulations on landowners stretching far beyond their legal authority.”

Meuser continued, “In particular, the Biden Administration’s proposed WOTUS rule would lead to every ditch, stream, and puddle on farmers’ and other private citizens’ properties being regulated under the Clean Water Act, even miles away from the nearest navigable water. I continue to urge the Biden administration to withdraw their disastrous WOTUS rule, especially following the Supreme Court’s decision.”

In April 2022, Congressman Meuser joined 46 senators and 154 other House members in filing an amici curiae brief calling on the Supreme Court to rule in favor of the Sacketts in this case, reversing a lower court ruling that held the EPA had the authority to regulate private wetlands.

Meuser also joined Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Sam Graves (R-Mo.), Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman David Rouzer (R-N.C.) and 151 other colleagues in introducing the legislation to repeal the Biden administration’s WOTUS rule earlier this year. The legislation passed the House and Senate with bipartisan majorities but was vetoed by President Biden.

Background on WOTUS:

In 2015, the Obama Administration finalized a rule that expanded the definition of WOTUS, creating confusion and burdensome red tape, especially for Pennsylvania’s agriculture, construction, and coal industries. 

The Trump administration released a proposed rule to replace the 2015 WOTUS rule with a new one that provided much-needed predictability and certainty for farmers by establishing clear and reasonable definitions of what qualifies as a “water of the United States.” The NWPR was finalized in 2020.

On day one of his Administration, President Biden signed an executive order to begin the process of rolling back the Trump Administration’s NWPR.

In December 2022, the EPA issued a new rule repealing the NWPR and changing the definition of WOTUS in a way that will expand federal regulatory authority.

###

Original source can be found here.