Walden backs bill to block EPA rule-making expansion

In what he termed “an effort to protect private property rights and farm and ranching jobs in rural Oregon,” Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., voiced his strong support Tuesday for a bill to block a proposal by the Obama administration to, in his view, unilaterally increase their regulatory authority over the nation’s waters.

The “Waters of the United States Regulatory Overreach Protection Act” (H.R. 5078) passed the House on a bipartisan vote Tuesday. Walden is a cosponsor of this bill, along with Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Ore.

He made the following remarks on the House floor during debate on the measure:

“All across Oregon, farmers, ranchers, and other property owners are walking around their land, wondering what the EPA will regulate under the proposed rule to expand its Clean Water Act jurisdiction.

“Ranchers in eastern Oregon wonder about their stock ponds. Wheat growers in the Columbia Basin worry about an intermittent stream adjacent to a field. Fruit growers in Hood River and onion growers in Ontario are concerned about their irrigation ditches.

“This proposed rule is based on faulty science, and it underestimates the tremendous harm it poses to our rural economies. It is no wonder that people are concerned. At a town hall meeting I had in Grants Pass on Saturday morning, for three of the 30 people there, this was their number one issue. Their involved in real estate, and they are very upset and concerned about what this could do.

“This regulatory overreach by the EPA blatantly ignores Congress’ repeated rejection of similar legislative efforts to expand jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act. Of course, we shouldn’t be that surprised, the EPA has tried this before, and they have been rebuked by the Supreme Court. Twice, in fact, in 2001 and 2006.

“EPA says this new rule was meant to clarify the scope of the Clean Water Act, but I’ve heard across my district how the vague language in this proposal actually creates more uncertainty, not less. More red tape, not less. For our farmers, ranchers, Oregonians, and others that utilize our water resources, it is a huge threat.

“I have long opposed expansion of this authority, whether through legislation or administrative rulemaking. Detrimental action of this size and scope shouldn’t be pushed by anyone, much less by unelected bureaucrats.

“The economies of rural Oregon and other communities around the country face enough obstacles already. Broken federal forest policies have strangled communities, often leaving only agriculture to grow jobs and combat unemployment rates into the double digits.

“We don’t need agencies in Washington D.C. erecting more hurdles and creating more uncertainty as our farmers and ranchers work to feed the world and create jobs in rural communities. It’s time to ditch this rule.

“I applaud Mr. Southerland from Florida for writing this bill and appreciate Chairman Shuster for helping to bring it to the floor. I urge its passage to stop yet another regulatory overreach by a federal agency out of control, threatening jobs, threatening private property rights, threatening rural communities, and threatening our way of life.”

The Waters of the United States Regulatory Overreach Protection Act would uphold the current federal-state partnership of water regulation and preserve the existing limited regulation of the “waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act.

The bill blocks the Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers from finalizing a proposed rule to expand the scope of their authority over water, which critics say would have harmful effects on ranchers, farmers and other water users.

Farmers and ranchers around Oregon praised passage of the bill, according to a release from Walden’s office.

“EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers’ attempt to control private lands using the Clean Water Act must be stopped,” said Jackson County Farm Bureau President Ron Bjork. “It is important that farms be able to focus on raising fresh, healthy, and necessary food and feed for this world without unnecessary regulations. Thanks to Congressman Walden, Congress has taken an important step to help ensure farmers can continue to farm their land without federal permission and allows landowners to meaningfully improve water quality through existing state programs.”

“We appreciate Congressman Walden’s work to stop the EPA’s rule which is an overreach by the federal government that threatens to eliminate conservation practices currently implemented by farmers and ranchers across Oregon,” said Curtis Martin, a North Powder rancher speaking on behalf of the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association.

The bill passed the House by a vote of 262-152, with 35 Democrats joining 227 Republicans in support. The legislation now heads to the Senate to be considered.