Grassley Comment on Waters of the U.S. Proposed Rule

Press Release

Senator Chuck Grassley today released the following statement regarding the state of Iowa's comment submission to the Environmental Protection Agency regarding the Waters of the U.S. proposed rule. The proposed rule would add most streams, creeks, wetlands, ponds and ditches that are currently subject to state water quality measures to the jurisdiction of the federal government for permitting and regulatory requirements. This could result in significant red tape for Iowa farmers as they make routine decisions about how best to use their land, ironically including hampering projects to improve water quality. Grassley is a cosponsor of legislation that would prevent the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers from finalizing the March 2014 proposed rule.

Iowans can submit comments on the rule until November 14, 2014. The Website address for submitting comments is: http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0880-0001.

"This topic is consistently brought up at my town hall meetings. Iowans understand just how far reaching the potential impact of the proposed rule could be. Redefining what a navigable river is, and asserting federal control in places where water doesn't flow, shows how out of touch the Obama administration is. The EPA's attitude toward agriculture creates an uneasiness among Iowans who know the major impact agriculture has on the state's economy. I appreciate the comments from Governor Branstad and the state leaders. Their submission reflects the sentiment I hear as well across Iowa."

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