Statement By Senator John Mccain On Federal Judge Halting Epa's "Clean Water Rule"

Press Release

U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) released the following statement today on a federal judge halting the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) "Clean Water Rule":

"I am pleased a federal judge has blocked the EPA's so-called "Clean Water Rule' from taking effect tomorrow. The rule would drastically expand the EPA's permitting ability over private property owners. The rule essentially rewrites the Clean Water Act, which is meant to protect rivers and large waterbodies, and applies the law's hefty fines and strict compliance to activities occurring near dry desert washes or certain ditches. I continue to hear from a number of Arizona farmers, ranchers, and homebuilders who are alarmed that the rule will put their jobs under the thumb of the EPA. In Arizona, these sectors are vital to our state's economy. I will continue to support legislation to block the implementation of the rule."

Senator McCain recently sent a letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy expressing concern about the damage that the Clean Water Rule is doing to the State of Arizona, and questioning whether the agency considered how the rule would impact local economies before implementing it. In addition, the Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works recently approved the Federal Water Quality Protection Act, a bill introduced by Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) and cosponsored by Senators McCain and Jeff Flake (R-AZ) that would prevent the EPA from using its Clean Water Rule as a tool to control land or isolated water. Senators McCain and Flake's recent op-ed in The Arizona Republic also highlights the potentially devastating effects of this rule and other Obama Administration regulations on Arizona businesses and landowners.

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