U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) issued the following statement in response to a nationwide stay of the implementation of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule:
“The Obama EPA’s WOTUS rule – one of the largest federal land grabs in history – was dealt another legal blow today,” said Thune. “I’ve heard from farmers and ranchers from every corner of South Dakota who are concerned that the overreaching arm of the federal government will drive up compliance costs and expose homeowners and property owners across the country to massive new fines. I applaud today’s ruling and will continue to work with my colleagues in the Senate to ensure that South Dakotans are protected from what amounts to yet another massive Obama administration overstep.”
The decision by the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals extends to all 50 states an earlier injunction by a federal district court that blocked implementation in 13 states, including South Dakota.
Thune is a cosponsor of the Federal Water Quality Protection Act, a bipartisan bill that would direct the EPA to scrap its current proposal and ensure future proposals do not include ponds, ditches, agriculture water, storm water, and certain other areas not typically regulated under the federal Clean Water Act.
