Senators call for repeal of Waters of the U.S. proposal

Late last week, Sens. John Barrasso (R-WY) and Joe Donnelly (D-IN) announced their intent to introduce bipartisan legislation to repeal the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Waters of the United States proposal.

The Waters of the U.S. proposal would make it so that nearly all the waters in the country would be regulated.

Barrasso and Donnelly believe the proposal will infringe upon the right of the country's private property owners. The proposal is also challenged by officials from the National Cattleman's Beef Association and the Public Lands Council.

EPA representatives have maintained the act does not supercede the authority of the Clean Water Act, calling assertions to the contrary "ludicrous."

“The ranching industry prides itself on being a good steward of our country’s natural resources,” Public Lands Council President Brenda Richards said. “We maintain open spaces, healthy rangelands, preserve wildlife habitat and provide the country with healthy and nutritious food we all love. To provide all these important functions, livestock producers must be able to operate without excessive and subjective federal burdens.”