Statement by Senator John McCain on EPA's Proposed Withdrawal of the "Waters of the United States" Rule

Press Release

U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) released the following statement today on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) announcement of its proposed withdrawal of the "Waters of the United States" (WOTUS) rule:

"The EPA's decision to repeal the "Waters of the United States' rule is an important victory for Arizona's agriculture and homebuilding sectors, which account for a significant portion of economic activity in our state. This regulation was a misguided attempt by the Obama Administration to usurp state environmental laws by expanding the EPA's permitting authority over development projects touching virtually any water body, including dry desert washes and certain irrigation systems in Arizona. The EPA made the right decision to roll-back this onerous expansion of federal regulatory control over businesses vital to Arizona's economy."

During the 114th Congress, Senator McCain cosponsored a resolution of disapproval to rescind the EPA's WOTUS rule. In addition, Senator McCain cosponsored the Federal Water Quality Protection Act, legislation that would have prevented EPA from using its WOTUS rule as a tool to control land or isolated water. Senator McCain was also an original cosponsor of a bill authored by Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ), the Defending Rivers from Overreaching Polices Act (DROP Act), which would have required a peer-reviewed scientific analysis to rewrite the EPA's WOTUS rule.

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