Shuster Statement on Finalization of Waters of the United States Rule

Statement

Congressman Bill Shuster (R-PA), Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee released the following statement today after the administration finalized its Waters of the United States Rule (WOTUS) to broaden the federal government's authority to regulate waters under the Clean Water Act. Congressman Shuster's legislation to require the withdrawal of this proposal, H.R. 1732, the Regulatory Integrity Protection Act of 2015 passed the House on May 12, 2015.

"It is incredibly disappointing and disturbing that we have come to this point. For years, the administration failed to find any traction to move this expansion of federal regulatory power through Congress. Since the repeated collapse of its efforts in Congress, the administration proposed to broaden its authority through this proposal, in which it failed to properly consult with states, local governments, and other stakeholders.

"Today, the administration is capping off this power grab, plowing ahead with its flawed rule despite the bipartisan, bicameral concerns of Congress, despite the long-standing federal-state partnership to regulate waters under the Clean Water Act, and despite the objections and concerns from at least 32 states and representatives of the Nation's large cities, smaller cities, counties, towns, townships, farmers, businesses, homebuilders, contractors, manufacturers, and more.

"More than one million public comments were filed on this rule, and 70% of the unique, substantive comments requested EPA to withdraw or significantly modify the rule. It was even recently reported that the EPA lobbied supporters to pack the docket with favorable comments, making a mockery of the regulatory process.

"Although the administration has taken this action today, the Waters of the United States issue has not been resolved or fixed, and the impacts on the economy and the rights of states, local governments, and individual citizens will be significant. However, legislation that I introduced and which the House has passed, would still require the administration to withdraw this rule, and go back and propose a new rule developed in a consultative fashion with states, local governments, and stakeholders -- the proper process they should have followed in the first place. The Regulatory Integrity Protection Act (H.R. 1732), if enacted, can still ensure that we strengthen the protection of our Nation's waters in a balanced, common sense regulatory approach."

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