U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines, amember of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today released a statement in response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) release of the “Revised Definition of ‘Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule.
“I’m disappointed that the EPA has once again missed the mark. This rule continues to lack clarity and neglects the concerns of those who know how to best manage land and water—the folks on the ground. I will continue to fight for the rights of Montana farmers, ranchers and landowners and push back on the Biden administration’s regulatory agenda.”
The amended rule comes after the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision to reaffirm the rights of landowners in Sackett vs. the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and rein in the federal agencies’ regulatory overreach on “waters of the United States” to bring it in line with statutory limits.
Senator Daines also wanted to highlight the testimony of Montanans personally feeling the impacts of heavy-handed WOTUS regulations. See below for a video featuring Yellowstone Valley Electric Cooperative on how WOTUS has the potential to hurt Montana landowners and businesses and what is at stake for Montana energy consumers if this overregulation is not checked.
Click HERE to watch and HERE to download TV elements.
Background:
In May, all nine Supreme Court Justices concurred in reversing the judgement of the Ninth Circuit that the EPA had regulatory authority over Mike and Chantell Sackett’s property.
Daines is and has always been an outspoken advocate for the rights of Montana landowners. Earlier this year, he joined his Republican colleagues in introducing a formal challenge to the Biden administration’s burdensome “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule through a Congressional Review Act (CRA) joint resolution of disapproval. After the CRA passed both the House and the Senate, it was vetoed by President Biden.
Senator Daines also joined 200 colleagues in submitting an amicus brief for Sackett v. EPA that laid out support for ensuring that farmers, ranchers, small businesses and property owners could develop their land without the threat of federal bureaucrats charging them with civil or criminal penalties.