Press Release: Gov. Little Leads Governors in Opposing Biden’s EPA Waters Rule
By Press Release • January 31, 2023The following press release was sent out by the Office of Governor Brad Little. Press releases do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of those at the Idaho Dispatch.
Boise, Idaho – Governor Brad Little is leading 24 other Republican Governors in opposing the Biden Administration’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule and called on President Joe Biden today to delay implementation of the rule until the U.S. Supreme Court issues a ruling in Sackett v. EPA, a case involving an Idaho couple.
“Biden’s overreaching WOTUS rule threatens rural communities across Idaho and America, creating uncertainty for farmers, ranchers, property owners, and everyday citizens at a time when they’re already hurting from record inflation,” Governor Little said. “I’m proud to lead our nation’s Governors in calling on President Biden to abandon this attempt to subject rural America – the backbone of our nation – to more onerous federal regulation.”
Biden’s WOTUS rule seeks to put puddles, ditches, watering ponds, and other small water features under federal protection. It is being implemented months before the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to decide Sackett, which could significantly alter the regulatory authority of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Biden Administration’s attempt to regulate private ponds and ditches could waste state and federal resources and cause unnecessary tension for farmers and rural communities.
Signatories to the letter include: Governors Brad Little (ID), Kay Ivey (AL), Mike Dunleavy (AK), Sarah Sanders (AR), Ron DeSantis (FL), Brian Kemp (GA), Eric Holcomb (IN), Kim Reynolds (IA), Tate Reeves (MS), Mike Parson (MO), Greg Gianforte (MT), Jim Pillen (NE), Joe Lombardo (NV), Chris Sununu (NH), Doug Burgum (ND), Mike DeWine (OH), Kevin Stitt (OK), Henry McMaster (SC), Kristi Noem (SD), Bill Lee (TN), Greg Abbott (TX), Spencer Cox (UT), Glenn Youngkin (VA), Jim Justice (WV), and Mark Gordon (WY).
Portions of the letter are included below:
“Another burdensome and overly broad regulation from the federal government could not come at a worse time for America. Having already squandered much of America’s energy independence, you should not increase costs for consumers by tying up energy production with even more red tape.”
“We call into question the timing and necessity of the rule with the court’s upcoming Sackett decision which is expected by June of this year. That opinion could significantly impact the final rule and its implementation. To change the rule multiple times in six months is an inefficient and wasteful use of state and federal resources and will impose an unnecessary strain on farmers, builders, and every other impacted sector of the American economy.”
“The substance of the rule hinders state governments as we seek to give clarity and consistency to businesses, farms, and individuals regarding the regulatory framework for water.”
The letter from 25 Governors to President Biden is available here.
Tags: EPA, Sackett, SCOTUS, Water Rights, Waters of the United States, WOTUS
3 thoughts on “Press Release: Gov. Little Leads Governors in Opposing Biden’s EPA Waters Rule”
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About time you do something worth a damn ! Not stop making money off Covid and grow a pair of brass !
It’s a sad day when my very first thought was, “What’s in this for Brad ?” That’s how much distrust of his character that I have.
This federal mandated water issue has been a ‘thing’ for decades, and we’re just now putting up resistance ?
Correct. I was involved in water regulations 20-30 years ago and ever since the first time these klowns proposed an all encompassing definition of the waters of the US, forestry and agriculture has been against this over reach. Again, BiDumb will screw up ag and forestry for his own purposes; just like he has done to the economy, military, crime, and inflation. Congress makes the rules, not the EPA. Fight them.