Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson applauds the Trump Administration’s executive order that directs the Army Corps of Engineers and EPA to review and reconsider an Obama Administration rule that would expand the definition of “waters of the United States.”

Simpson chairs the appropriations subcommittee overseeing the budget for the US Army Corps of Engineers and sits on the subcommittee overseeing the budget for the EPA.  In those roles, he has authored language passed by the House that would prevent the EPA and the US Army Corps of Engineers from expanding their regulatory jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act. Implementation of the rule was already on hold as a federal appeals court was considering a legal challenge filed by states.

“Under the Obama Administration, the EPA attempted to drastically expand the reach of EPA regulations to ground water, farm ponds, and ditches,” said Congressman Simpson. “Simply put, the rule was a shot across the bow to westerners because water is life. I applaud this Administration for taking the first step in rolling back this potentially burdensome regulation. The directive will give Idahoans the relief I have been advocating for since the rule was first proposed.”  

The controversial rule would expand the definition of “waters of the United States” by removing the word “navigable.”  As a result, federal regulation under the Clean Water Act could apply to virtually all water, including ground water.  States currently regulate non-navigable water.