WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) spoke out against the Obama administration’s recently released “Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule” that defines which streams, rivers, ponds, wetlands, ditches, and waterways are subject to federal oversight under the Clean Water Act. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have bypassed Congress and broadened the scope of their jurisdiction to regulate waters of the United States, creating uncertainty for Louisiana farmers, businesses, private land owners and local governments to plan economic development projects and decide how to best use their property.
Senator Cassidy also announced that he will co-sponsor the Federal Water Quality Protection Act, S.1140,introduced by Senator John Barrasso which defines how the EPA and Army Corps should and should not define waters of the United States.
Watch his remarks HERE and see excerpts and referenced graphs below.
“…When I’m in Louisiana, I consistently hear from my constituents about the impacts this rule could have on private property, private property development, timberland, farmland and other water bodies that would be subject to federal control…
“…Louisiana is experiencing significant economic growth, growth that is bringing jobs to those Americans who have had the hardest time finding jobs with this recent poorly performing economy. This progress will be negatively affected as a result of this rule…
“…Now in Calcasieu Parish, more than sixty billion dollars in various manufacturing projects are underway or are in the process of being approved… These will require construction workers again creating the kind of jobs our economy needs more of. These projects can be severely impacted as a consequence of this rule…
“…This graphic displays the navigable waters prior to the rule…
“…Now you’ll see the bodies that will fall under the jurisdiction of the federal government under the finalized rule…
“… Instead of people in Louisiana deciding how best to use their property, the federal government will be able to dictate many land-use decisions, which have always been local…
“…Senator John Barrasso has a bill, the Federal Water Quality Protection Act… that provides clarity for how the EPA should and should not define waters of the United States.…I’d like to offer my support for that legislation…”