By Mary Kerr 202-225-6260
Rep. James L. Oberstar (Minn.), Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, issued the following statement in response to the Bush administration’s release of revised guidelines related to scope of Clean Water Act protections for the nation’s waters:
“Today, the Bush administration made its latest assault on the nation’s environment and its natural resources by releasing revised guidelines in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Rapanos v. United States. The new guidelines substantially limit the number of waters which will be protected by the Clean Water Act. This unjustifiable action comes on the heels of Monday’s refusal by the Supreme Court to provide additional clarity on the scope of Clean Water Act protections following its earlier misguided decisions.
“This revised guidance document, issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, further erodes Clean Water Act protections and creates a new and extremist test for determining which waters are protected. Contrary to the views of this administration, tying clean water protections to commercial navigation has no basis in statute or case law. It would have been far better for our nation’s essential water resources if the Bush administration had done absolutely nothing. In my opinion, no Presidential administration since the enactment of the Clean Water Act has done more harm to our nation’s water related environment than President Bush. At every turn, this administration chooses to gut, rather than enhance, the Federal government’s protection of the nation’s waterways and drinking water sources.
“State regulatory and public works agencies, and development and conservation communities have demanded clarity following the Supreme Court’s confusing decisions on the jurisdictional scope of the Clean Water Act. Unfortunately, the only clarity provided by this revised guidance is that additional waters will lose Clean Water Act protections.
“The only way to restore protections over our waters is through a legislative solution to the problems created by President Bush and the Supreme Court. In the 110th Congress, I introduced the Clean Water Restoration Act. The release of today’s guidance in the waning days of the Bush administration makes its passage even more imperative in order to protect the waters upon which so many in our county depend. This problem requires a legislative fix, and I intend to make it one of my highest priorities in the 111th Congress.”
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