Miss. Senators back bill aimed at EPA’s guidance policy
U.S. Sens. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) have renewed their fight to halt the Environmental Protection Agency from using regulatory guidance to expand the scope of the Clean Water Act.
Cochran and Wicker are cosponsoring the Preserve the Waters of the U.S. Act (S.1006), which would prevent the EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from using a guidance document finalized in February 2012 to change legal responsibilities under the Clean Water Act. It also stops the two agencies from issuing similar guidance in the future.
The senators, who cosponsored similar legislation in the 112th Congress, say they are concerned that if allowed to stand, the guidance document could subject anyone with a creek, ditch or pond on his or her property to EPA permitting requirements under the Clean Water Act. The guidance document was not subject to normal federal rulemaking process.
Mississippi Business Journal
6/6/13
