EPA Proposes One of the Biggest Government ‘Land Grabs’ in U.S. History
By Emily Hulsey
7 hours ago



The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a change to the Clean Water Act that would expand the massive organization’s control over U.S. water.

The proposal would essentially change the definition of “waters of the United States.” The Clean Water Act gives the EPA regulatory power over those waters, which the Supreme Court has defined as “relatively” permanent and large, such as oceans, rivers, lakes and streams. The EPA wants to change that definition to include “intermittent and ephemeral streams and wetlands” that are often seasonal or temporary but widespread throughout the country.

Several lawmakers have noted that the measure, if approved, would give the EPA control over private property such as ponds and creeks:

Louisiana Sen. David Vitter, the top Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, charged, “The … rule may be one of the most significant private property grabs in U.S. history.” He stated that the EPA was “picking and choosing” its science while trying to “take another step toward outright permitting authority over virtually any wet area in the country.” Vitter also noted that if the EPA gets its way, more environmental groups could sue private property owners.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, was also furious, saying that the EPA grab “could result in serious collateral damage to our economy.” She added of her home state, “If EPA is not careful, this rule could effectively give the federal government control of nearly all of our state — and prove to be a showstopper for both traditional access and new development.”

The EPA argues that the change is meant to simply clarify the scope of powers that the organization already has, and that those powers are necessary because more than 115 million Americans receive their water from those temporary or seasonal sources.

While the proposal does not require approval from Congress, federal officials have opened a 90-day window to hear from citizens before making their final decision.


http://www.ijreview.com/2014/03/1242...s-u-s-history/