HOUSE VOTE WOULD SINK EPA WATER RULE
The House has voted 262-152 to approve a bill (H.R. 5078) that would
block the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed rule to expand
the scope of waters subject to federal regulation under the Clean Water Act.
Under the rule, permitting requirements and associated costs for multifamily owners and developers would significantly increase without necessarily
resulting in improved water quality.
Specifically, EPA’s proposed rule would remove the federal regulatory
connection to waters considered “navigable” and replace it with a broader
definition, resulting in federal regulation of virtually all waters, including
man-made ponds and ditches.
The House-approved bill would instead require EPA to consult with
state and local regulators to fine-tune a ɕ