01/24/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/24/2022 15:33
North Platte, Neb. - U.S. Senator Deb Fischer, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, released the following statement today after learning that the U.S. Supreme Court will consider the Sackett vs. EPA case involving the definition of "waters of the United States":
"Since 2015, I've fought against the Obama-era WOTUS rule because it is the federal government at its worst: it is overreaching and hurtful to families, communities, and businesses. Nebraskans own the water in our state and they take great care of this key resource. Expanded federal regulation of our state's water is completely unacceptable, and I'm pleased the court is taking a look at this overreach."
In Sackett vs. EPA, the Court will be determining whether the 9th Circuit used the proper tests in determining whether wetlands were "waters of the United States" under the Clean Water Act. The case involves an Idaho couple who were told they needed a Clean Water Act permit to build a home on their private property, even though the lot they were building on lacked a surface water connection to any stream, creek, lake, or other water body.
More information:
In 2015, the Obama administration finalized a rule that greatly expanded the definition of federally regulated Waters of the United States. President Trump began the process of rescinding Obama's WOTUS rule and released the Navigable Waters Protection Rule. Last year, President Biden signed an executive order to undo the Trump administration's actions.
Senator Fischer has been a leader in efforts to stop the 2015 WOTUS rule. A list of her actions on this issue is below.
# # #