EPA Administrator Zeldin on WOTUS: “We believe it’s easy to have a simple definition”

It has been a busy week on Capitol Hill. At a House Subcommittee Hearing, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin faced questions about how the agency plans to clarify the definition of Waters of the U.S. in light of the Supreme Court’s Sackett ruling.

“Our goal is that any of your farmers, ranchers, landowners are able to look at water on their property and they are able to determine on their own whether or not that is water of the United States that’s going to be regulated by the federal government. They should not have to go out and hire some lawyer or some consultant to be able to tell them whether or not that waterway is a water of the U.S. We want to do it that is durable, where no matter what would happen in a presidential election in the future, that the definition doesn’t have to change again. We believe that it’s very easy to have a simple, straightforward, prescriptive definition of waters of the United States.”

Related Stories
Policy awareness is becoming part of everyday risk management.
NCBA Chief Counsel Mary-Thomas Hart breaks down CAFO permits, EPA enforcement, and what cattle producers need to know as rules continue to evolve.
Roger McEowen, with the Washburn School of Law, offers an in-depth look at two of the top legal issues of 202. Today, he walks through last year’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) ruling and “lawfare.”
More than 1,100 residents and farmers have signed a letter urging Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins to step in, saying the proposal threatens irrigation supplies and long-term farm viability in the region.
Farm legal expert Roger McEowen reviews the history of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule and outlines how shifting definitions across multiple administrations have created regulatory confusion for landowners.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Nationwide highlights expanded insurance options for cattle operations and their company initiatives to promote grain bin safety and support women in agriculture.
New Holland VP Ryan Schaefer shares insights into the brand’s legacy and innovations that support U.S. cattle producers.
Corey Owens of the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo Association shares updates about this year’s event and its continued impact on youth, agriculture, and the San Angelo community.
Success requires more than talent — on this week’s FFA Today, agriculture students show us the hard work, dedication, and teamwork required to gain important skills outside of the classroom through the National FFA Organization.
Federal assistance has helped, but the most recent row-crop losses remain on producers’ balance sheets.