Well, welcome everybody
I'm Dave Ross with EPA's office of water and on behalf of Ryan Fischer Ryan
With the Department of Army we welcome you here today and thank you for joining us
We also welcome you to the map room EPA's bathroom
Historically this room was used as a gathering place for the Interstate Commerce Commission to do its important work
So in many ways this room is an appropriate setting for the Trump administration
to announce or propose a new definition for the term waters United States as that term is used in the Clean Water Act a
few decades ago or not quite to two decades ago the
Supreme Court gave our agencies some important instruction on the scope of Clean Water Act jurisdiction
the Chief Justice reminded us that the delegation of authority to the executive branch from Congress well to
Regulator to manager the water quality in our nation's navigable waters while broad had some important limitations
Over the years. I think the agencies may have drifted a bit from that guidance from the Supreme Court
And so today today's event
Our proposal is designed in part to recognize the careful balance that Congress
Put into the Clean Water Act more than 40 years ago. So we thank you for joining us on this event today
I'd like to take a moment to recognize the career teams at EPA the Department of Army the office our office of general counsel
Office of Management and Budget Army Corps of engineer several of you are here in the room
I saw Donna and John and Mindy and a few folks in raise your hands
thank you for
Your hard work your dedication
Your professionalism throughout this long journey has been greatly appreciated it Ryan and I and our senior leadership
Really really appreciate your hard work
This is another stop and an important journey and there's still work to do
But we could not do this without you and so we really appreciate it. Thank you for your work. So
So with that, I'd like to invite our honored guest to the stage Acting Administrator Andrew wheeler for EPA
The assistant secretary for civil works for the Department of Army. Mr. Mr
RT James and we have a special guest joining them today on stage the Secretary of the Interior
Ryan Zinke so gentlemen, please join us
We are also honored to have several members distinguished members of Congress who have taken time out of the busy day
There's some important work happening today up on the hill, but they have they've decided to come join us to share in this event
So if the members of Congress would please join us on the stage for the signing ceremony. We'd appreciate it
Emerson
Hey Troy Lyons, that's your cue
By the gathering you can understand the importance of this this event so administrator wheeler, mr
James if you would like to sign the proposed rule, we'd appreciate them
All right, so this is where the fun begins we're gonna we're gonna manage the team that the congressional
Membership takes some seats and the way I'm gonna ask the administrator to join us at the podium and offer some opening remarks
So, thank you
Thank you Dave for the introduction and I want to thank you and the entire
Office of water for the work you've put in in today's announcement as well as our partners at the Army Corps of Engineers
Could I ask the people from the office of water and the Army Corps in the audience to please stand?
I'm sure there's
Before I begin I want to recognize Secretary's inky assistant secretary James
Deputy secretary sinski and members of Congress the Senate White House staff industry leaders and our distinguished guests
We're also joined today by a zippy Duvall president American Farm Bureau Federation
And the presidents of all 50 state Farm Bureau's here in the audience. Thank you for being here today
This impressive group and the people they represent
reflect just how significant this rulemaking is to the American public
When President Trump took office
He immediately began a process to remove and replace
undue regulatory burdens the stifle American innovation and economic development at the top of the list was the Obama administration's
2015 waters the United States definition
Today EPA and the Army Corps are proposing a new definition of waters of the United States
That puts an end to the previous administration's power grab
the three overarching
Principles that I wanted to ensure are in this proposal are one
The property owners should be able to stand on their property and be able to tell whether or not they have water
That is a federal water without having to hire outside
professionals
Number two that we are clearly defining the difference between a federally protected waterway and state protected waterways and
Three that we are providing the certainty the American public needs and in a manner that will be upheld by the courts
That is why we are closely following the language of the Clean Water Act and the three Supreme Court decisions
When the Obama EPA put forward the 2015 definition they claimed it was in the best interest of water quality
But it was really about power power in the hands of the federal government over farmers developers and landowners
the Missouri Farm Bureau
For example estimated that over ninety five percent of the state's land area could have come under the 2015 Obama definition
Despite the fact that Missouri and most states already have their own protections for waters within their borders
regardless of whether they are federally regulated under
the 2015 rule
more landowners across the US would need to apply for a federal permit to exercise control over their own property a
costly and time-consuming process that runs counter to our republican form of government not
Only can the process to obtain a federal permit cost tens of thousands of dollars
But the 2015 definition also put local land use decisions in the hands of Washington DC
Congress did not intend the federal government to be the nation's development planner
Government has a responsibility to protect the people but not run their lives in
line with president Trump's February 2017 executive order our proposal would replace the
2015 definition with one that respects the rule of law and the primary role of the states in managing their land and water resources
It would end years of uncertainty over where federal jurisdiction begins and ends for the first time
we are clearly defining the difference between federally protected wetlands and state protected wetlands and
Inspired by Justice Scalia's Rapanos opinion our proposal adheres to the statutory limits of our Authority
finally, we're ensure that America's water protections among the best in the world will remain strong while giving states and tribes the
Certainty to manage their waters and way the best protect their natural resources and local economies
The proposal identified six categories of waters that are waters of the u.s
one traditional navigable waters following the language the third language of the Clean Water Act
two tributaries to those navigable waters
Three certain ditches such as those used for navigation or those affected by the tides
For certain lakes and ponds five impoundments and six wetlands that are adjacent to all of the above
the proposal also details
What are not waters of the u.s. These include features that only contain water during or in response to rainfall?
Groundwater which Congress never intended to be include another definition
many ditches including most roadside or farm ditches a
Ditch that a farmer dug on his or her property would not be a water of the u.s
Prior converted cropland would also be excluded
stormwater control features and wastewater and waste treatment systems
I do want to address some misinformation that is already being reported
There are some reports that under our proposal
Sixty percent of the nation's streams would lose federal protections and one report said that eighty percent in, California
That is not correct
The sixty percent number was used by the previous administration and they did not have enough information to accurately or responsibly
quantify changes in fairly regulated waters in addition the maps that the previous administration
used to support the 60 percent talking point do not distinguish between
Ephemeral or intermittent waters, which will be treated differently under our proposed rule
There is no nationwide map that identifies quote waters the United States as a result
This estimate should not be used to characterize the agency's
Current proposal and in the case of California, the state already has regulations in place that are stricter than the federal government
So nothing will change for California's waters
But this shows you the point of our proposal to clearly define the difference between a federal and a state water
I also want to be clear that our proposal would not impact other
Federal water protections such as the Safe Drinking Water Act or our ongoing restoration efforts such as the Chesapeake Bay
Great Lakes the Everglades or the Gulf Coast
Right now because of litigation the 2015 rule is in effect in 22 states while the previous
Regulations issued in the 1980s are in effect in the remaining twenty eight states
This regulatory patchwork creates uncertainty and impedes economic development
Our proposal would establish national consistency and provide greater certainty to States and landowners
shortly after today's event the
Proposal will be available online
the agencies will take comment on the proposal for 60 days after publication in the Federal Register and
Will hold a public listening session as well
Please take a close. Look at the proposal not necessarily the news reports
But the proposal and let us know what your thoughts are. Our goal is a more precise definition
That gives the American people the freedom and certainty to do what they do best build homes grow crops
Develop projects that improve the environment and the lives of the federals of their fellow citizens
Thank you for joining us today, and it's now my pleasure to introduce our next speaker
Please join me in welcoming Artie James the Assistant Secretary of the army for civil works
Good afternoon. I am Rd James Assistant Secretary of the army for Civil Works
my agency of the EPA and the
Interior Department have worked tirelessly in trying to develop this new proposed rule
Hundreds of people worked on this
Experts in hydrology the law
passed
wotus bills
Passed court conclusions and we've tried our best to come up with something. That's fair
Not only to this nation but to the individuals who try to live and make a living in this nation
I'm pleased to be here today with
administrators wheeler
We've worked hand-in-hand very hard with the EPA
in developing this new definition of waters of the United States in
Supporting EPA and wotus rule making my objective was to bring a common-sense approach to the definition
make implementation clear and predictable
reduce
inconsistencies in implementation across the nation
Recognize and respect the primary authority states and tribes have over their own water
imbalance protecting federal waters with the need of supporting national
economic interest
The proposed rule provides a
Straightforward definition of world us that the public and regulators alike can understand
making
implementation clear and predictable
The proposed rule focuses on those waters that are undoubtedly in the federal interest
Recognizing and respecting the primary authority of states and tribes
This rule ensures a clear and understandable definition that respects state and tribal authority
balances local and national interests and creates a more efficient process
thereby getting predictable decisions quicker to the public
allowing necessary economic growth to move forward
For my ten years Assistant Secretary. My goal is to improve the
overall efficiency and
consistencies
within our regulatory program
The this proposed rule moves us toward that goal
I will continue to move this goal forward with such initiatives as
improving how we support States and
tribes that seek approval from EPA
to assume the section 404 program for themselves
in closing
this proposed rule helps address many critical issues that have been challenging for the public and regulators alike in
determining waters of the United States
And now is my distinct pleasure to introduce the Secretary of Interior
Ryan Zinke who has a Navy SEAL knows more about water than I ever will
Since I'm no longer in Congress, I'm gonna uncharacteristically make my remarks very short
But
This is a theme
Is it a lot of decisions on wildlife on water and land management are better at the state level?
clearly the overreach and are in the Trump administration's opinion is that there was overreach and if you don't know the difference between
the Potomac and Yellowstone
Maybe you're not in the best position to make decisions on the Yellowstone
and out west
especially out west there's a lot of anger about federal overreach and
at that anger many cases is is deserved and
decisions about our water
The decisions should be left at the local community and the state and the people to live there our
Constitution never
Anticipated the federal government would be making decisions on intermittent streams and ponds and ditches
Those decisions belong to the people
And I want to thank the EPA
And the whole team, I want to thank our members of Congress with my friends here for making a stand
Because this is why we're all sent to Washington
To represent the people and our government should work for the people and not the other way around
So just like sage-grouse
Doesn't remove any protections but it does it puts the management decisions back where they should be the people that work the land
that hunt
They own the land
And the communities that we all share our greatest bounty. So with that thank you very much and Merry Christmas
Well, thank you for those opening remarks at this time
I'd like to invite our distinguished members of Congress that come to the stage and I'll call you in order
But for I'd like to begin with chairman Lisa Murkowski from Alaska. Have you come to the stage? And we appreciate that? Thank you
Well, this is a good day as far as I'm concerned this this is a good day
I want to thank all those who have been working
so aggressively to address this rule this this is a big deal for
the state of Alaska in in my time here on Capitol Hill
I don't know that there has been one single rule that has caused as much concern and as much
Frustration as the 2015 wotus rule and and that's that's saying something
We are we're a big state as you all know. We're a big state. We got a lot of standing water
We have a lot of what we call wetlands we have about
174 million acres of wetlands so to put it into perspective and I see a couple cowboy hats out there all of
Texas is about a hundred and sixty eight million acres. So we have more considered wetlands
than the state of Texas
so think about what the application of that 2015 rule meant to us the last rule left our businesses our
municipalities and an awful lot of just individual Alaskans questioning
About whether or not their projects were going to be compliant and and this was not just big developments. This could be as simple as
How am I going to put in a new driveway here? There was so much uncertainty
That was created with the 2015 rule and to make matters even worse
What you needed was you needed his army of
hydrologists and engineers and lawyers
Just to figure out whether or not your project
Could even begin
So I'm very pleased that we are revisiting
I'm glad the focus has been to clarify
to bring about some certainty and I think most people would say to bring about some common sense with the
Regulations but really trying to achieve this balance between the federal and the state
Relationship and this has come about as you have indicated, mr. Secretary
By listening to the people listening to the concerns of the states and those who've been living with these regulations
We can work together to protect water quality without casting a shadow over
Every construction project that's out there
So that's what has begun today and I'm pleased to be able to be with so many of you who have helped
Bring this about. Thank you
Well Thank You chairwoman Mackowski next I'd like to call to the stage agriculture chairman Pat Roberts from Kansas
I
Gotta tell you
Talking to zippy. I just came up here. I came here with security
I'm this little nervous being in this building
The only urns down here said Pat I think they're gonna try to control your emissions I
Don't know at 40 years of public service
14 years as a staffer all of you some of you I've worked with for many many years first time
I've been in the EPA. I
am nervous
All you representatives from the farm beer in 50 states
We have to exit quick. It's right out that door the
Secretary has made the speech. Thank you, sir for your leadership. Thank everybody here for your leadership more especially useful. Thank you
For too long now EPA has been a four-letter word out in farm country
Now it is a four-letter word the environmental farmer Protection Agency
And that's a good thing
Senator Stabenow from Michigan is the ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee the least partisan committee in the Congress
and
We went all over farm country the last few years that I talking about farm bill
And every place we went in all 50 states, we didn't get to all 50, but all regions all crops were represented
And I figured the number-one issue would be crop insurance. I
figured that because I helped writing so
And then maybe that the trade situation which we all know about and all the tariffs and all that, nope
Every time but the second or third or fourth person would jump up that was representing a farm organization or just themselves individually
And would say what about Louis?
It was all about
having a
Irrigation ditch a farm pond where no self-respecting Duck whatever land
Under control to make it
Raise up to a certain level. I
Did talk to an APA troupe who came out to Kansas one time and we were going around in farm country
And he was a little nervous being in farm country
But at any rate he said wouldn't be wonderful if we could have all the farm ponds
And have have those farm ponds
Hit that quality number
so that
farmers could actually swim in the farm pond if they so wanted I
Thought what on earth is going on?
Does he really think a farmer after a hard day's work is going to put on a speedo and get in a kayak?
And try to go between the critters out there in the farm home
Well enough of that is you're sitting there straight with certainty and predictability
That's what we're trying to do in the farm belt, which will be by the way before the Rules Committee
Of the house the distinguished Rules Committee of the house where we hopefully get approval and we get the farm bill done as well. I
Want to say that I think I am speaking directly from farmers ranchers state agency officials
industries in Kansas all across the country
Who feared the negative impacts of the Obama administration a wotus rule that would have been imposed upon them?
I don't mean to single out the Obama administration. This has been a problem for a long time
But I'm so pleased that President Trump in this administration and this secretary you especially are following through on
Or their first commitments to provide regulatory relief. That was and that
Will direct the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers to review and replace this
And that's happening today. I
Hope we do provide more certainty to farmers and ranchers
About when the Clean Water Act regulations apply to them and more importantly what they do not
So on behalf of the farmers and ranchers and growers that I am privileged to represent
And all of us on the Senate Agriculture Committee of which we have quite a few here and the house
Thank you, thank you to administration
Thanks to the EPA for your leadership and thank you for taking this
tremendous positive step forward in eliminating onerous and burdensome regulations while protecting
our nation's water supply I
Just can't think of a better day. I
Think I'm going to try to escape
Well, thank you chairman roberts and we've already left the security now to let you out of the building
Next i'd like to call senator joni ernst from iowa to the stage for some remarks Thank You senator
Gosh thanks everybody. It is great to be here today. This this really is a tremendous day. Aleko Senator Pat Roberts
Sentiments that this has been impactful on our state's I'd like to acknowledge, of course our Iowa farm Bureau president Craig Hill
Thank you for being here today
Craig and I had spent many hours out on the road doing our own meetings and we heard consistently from our farmers and ranchers
Just how devastating this rule was in a rural areas
But not only that as I was making my way around the state
I was hearing from even folks in the Metro centers how detrimental this proposed rule was
To those that were living in the cities in the metro area
So it wasn't just our farmers and ranchers that it turned out all of our citizens
Seemed to be in peril from this ill-advised overreach of federal government
I do want to thank the EPA. This has been an important step forward and especially under Acting Administrator
Andrew wheelers
Leadership for ensuring this voters replacement rule was released
quickly, very important and
Properly to provide much-needed regulatory certainty to the people of Iowa
I also want to thank the many stakeholders
Of many of you right here in this room who worked so hard on this from the farm bureau to the home builders
To the individual farmers and ranchers who met with me over the years in DC and back home in, Iowa
taking the Obama administration's blood waters rule off of the books has been one of my top priorities in
2015 I was proud to introduce the legislation
That would have nullified the rule
With help from many of my congressional colleagues here today. We actually got this through
Congress in a bipartisan manner and we got it to President Obama's desk
where
Unfortunately, it was vetoed my first bill vetoed by the president
That setback didn't stop us from pushing forward
And here we are today one step closer to finally ending this federal overreach
Again, I want to thank all the stakeholders that are here today and engaging in this discussion
Administrator. Thank you very much secretary. Thank you secretary. Thank you as well. I appreciate everybody being here today and for
supporting
Americans
Supporting our constituents and doing the right thing. So thank you all for being here. I appreciate the opportunity to be with you. Thank you
Thank You senator next I'd like to call to the stage Senator John Hoeven from North Dakota. Thank you
Well, I do really want to say, thank you appreciate
administrator wheeler
Secretary James secretary Zinke and secretary sense key
And the Senators the congressmen that are here all the distinguished guests the farmers and ranchers all the organization's this would have happened
Zippy Duvall without you and and so many
Like say farmers and ranchers many others across the country
Saying look we need a common sense rule and wotus is not a common sense rule in our state
Were North Dakota where an incredible AG powerhouse were an energy?
powerhouse
and whether it's those industries or construction
Or even just private property rights right your land, I mean who cares more about
The land and the water on the land and the farmers and the ranchers and the individuals that own it
And we have to remember that and we particularly have to remember that
When we're talking about legislation rules or regulation from Washington DC and we have to respect the rights of the states
this country was set up our
Constitution sets aside those states rights and they have to be respected by Constitution
They have to be respected. And so what we have here is a rule
Replacement and effort to seek common sense and as Secretary Zinke said to make sure that government works for people
Rather than people working for government. Imagine if you're a farmer or rancher or just a private property owner
After a hard rain you go out and you've got a big puddle there that's not usually there
You should be able to do what you know makes sense as the owner of that property
Right, maybe in your family for generations who knows better the water on that property than the farmer who's had that land for?
generations and
What his first call supposed to be to the EPA to say well at rain last night now? What can I do on my farm?
Or my ranch or if it's a construction site or if it's your land
So that's what we're talking about here that's important at the individual level
That we get this right and that's what this is
This is an effort to get it right to make sure we have clean water clean air
All those things but who's better stewards of the land than the people that live there are farmers and ranchers
And so, you know, I worked hard on the AG approps
We actually defunded the the interpretive rule as it applies to AG in
2015 and 2016 our federal district court in Fargo North Dakota. Judge Erickson put a stay on
Waters of the US, but we've got to get this sorted out and make sure that it works across the whole country
and so again administrator and to all of the
Individuals here that leave the agencies and are working so hard to get it right. Thank you
This goes out for comment now and we'll see what all the comments are. It's an open transparent
Process but it is about common sense and getting it right for this great country. Thanks so much
Thank You senator next I'd like to call this aid senator Mike rounds from south to South Dakota. Thank you
All right, thank you look I recognize that
I am one of 20 speaker's here today and so in the interest of cutting this a little bit short
I'm gonna submit my written comments for the record if that's okay
I do just want to say thank you to Acting Administrator wheeler assistant secretary, James and
Everyone at the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers who have been involved in crafting
This revised waters of the US or water rule
Look, this is a day in which we actually see some common sense
which is not real common in Washington DC and
What we've done is is as you've heard we've actually tried to suggest that a rule would be appropriate here
That that that is clear and precise and that allows
The folks that we work for the folks back home to actually be able to understand
What is subject to EPA and Corps of engineer approval was regard to water activity? This is a common-sense approach
Under some types of rules that I think are wrong
the ruling is such that if you have a question, you can always go to it a
bureaucrat and ask
What they think and get permission from them in order to do something in this particular case what these what these?
Organizations have proposed is a rule in which farmers ranchers citizens builders
the public can look at and understand what is
subject to EPA and Corps of engineer regulatory activity and that which is not and
What that means is is that for me a county in South Dakota
Doesn't have to come and ask permission in order to spray weeds in a ditch
whereas under the old proposal by the previous administration a
404 permit might very well be required
Just to go and do the common-sense thing of being a good neighbor and keeping weeds out of your ditches
So today I think is a victory. It's a victory for the American public and it says that we care about clean water
We care about our air but we care about clean water and we know that people across this country do as well
And that's what this is about is is sharing that responsibility with them at the state and local level as well. So, thank you
I think this is a step in the right direction. We most certainly appreciate all the work that you've done. Thank you
Well, thank you senator and those will be the first official written comments and the open docket that we'll have
Next I'd like to welcome to the stage Energy and Commerce chairman Greg Walden from Oregon. Thank you
Well, thank you very much
And I want to thank the EPA Administrator
Act in ministry and wheeler and the team here on the stage for your leadership on this, you know
The last administration got it wrong. This administration's getting it right. I also want to recognize as Sharon Waterman with the Oregon Farm Bureau
Who is here in the audience?
And I want to thank Farm Bureau and the other AG groups who have been so helpful
in bringing
Examples to light about what the old rule is doing out there and we've heard a lot of examples from our Senate colleagues
I want to tell you about in Oregon district I represent which is two-thirds the land mass of the state
I can brag about it sighs now that Lisa Murkowski has left the room
But in meetings throughout rural Oregon farmers ranchers and property owners have
Expressed the same concerns you've heard from our colleagues in the Senate Ning Klamath County. For example
Which was right on the Idaho or excuse me on the on the California border, Southern, Oregon?
Klamath County there ditches that provide both drainage and irrigation
Many of which were dug in areas where water naturally flows at certain times of the year
Traditionally activities like ditch cleaning or ditch drainage improvement did not fall under
EPA's jurisdiction, unless these were meaningfully connected to navigable waters
That's why this definition about what a federal navigable waterway is is so important. However under the Obama era wotus rule
Categorically included irrigation drainage ditches that left farmers having to acquire a federal permit just to continue
Farming as in this case, they've done for a hundred years the waters the u.s
Rule ignored congressional intent and ignored local common sense and opposition and it expanded the EPA's jurisdiction
Far beyond Navajo water navigable water waves that the Clean Water Act seeks to protect
the Obama administration EPA
unilaterally decided that their regulatory reach under this rule could encompass everything from
Stock ponds and irrigation ditches to vernal pools and even driveway puddles the irresponsible power grab from Washington
DC had real impacts for hardworking families across the country and certainly in Oregon
so I think this modernized rule this improved rule shows that the Trump administration is listening and
Acting this is common sense protection
And as you pointed out administrator tribes and states will still have jurisdiction to deal with the rest of it
And this is where it belongs so for our farm and ranch families from our protecting our private property rights
Congratulations on putting this rule out. Obviously the public will have an opportunity to weigh in now
But this is a big step in the right direction. We deeply appreciate the administration's leadership on this and I thank you very much
Thank You chairman, we appreciate that congressman Sam graves Missouri, would you please come to the stage? Thank you
Thanks for the for the opportunity
Most everything's been said not everybody said it yet
But you're gonna get to I'm gonna get to hear bit and I do want to thank Blake Hurst
He's with the Missouri Farm Bureau president and we grew up together literally right down the road farming together
And at Missouri Farm Bureau has been very active in this process. I'm one of the few
Members of Congress is still engaged in production agriculture. I'm six generation on our farm
I farmed with my father my two brothers my son and my nephew
Its corn and soybean operation when we first saw the waters rule come out. We were absolutely shocked at the
At they blatant overreach that we were seeing into our personal lives
personal property rights and
this
Lotus was never about clean waters. The administrator pointed out. This was always about the federal government getting more power more control over our lives
The president recognized that he listened to the people and he made a promise
And I'm very grateful for that. The new definition of Lotus is going to
it's going to provide the flexibility and the
and the certainty
For us as farmers is rule
Americans to
to manage our property for the benefit of both the economy and
The environment, you know, I mentioned a second ago that I'm very thankful to the president for making a promise
Well now I want to thank him for keeping that promise and for protecting our rural way of life
So thank you very much for the opportunity. Thank you
Thank You congressman next I'd like to call the stage Natural Resources chairman Rob Bishop from Utah. Thank you
Gentlemen, thank you for doing such a great job
I don't know if you can tell them the back there, but from my vantage point
I have to admit Secretary's inky, I think you belong the ugly sock contest up here
you had a pair behind you in competition, but
that's
Just keep it right there. All right
In the very first session of Congress
Congress was supposed to come up with postal roads and they were tired. They wanted to go home. They trusted George, Washington
They said let's just let him make those decisions
but one congressman from Virginia John page stood up and basically shamed Congress into staying there and doing their jobs and
Congress created the postal road system now in 1972 passed over a veto override
Congress came up with a piece of legislation
they had lofty and wonderful goals, but they didn't stay there long enough to actually come up with the details of the law or the
Definitions of what the word meant instead they allowed bureaucrats later on generation of decades later
sometimes working with special interest groups to make interpretations that change what their original intent was supposed to be and actually
mitigated against those lofty goals
They originally wanted to have so I'm very proud that you here today have tried to put that back into some kind of on
Some kind of concept that the rules should make sense. They should be helping people
they should be working with States which after all nineteen ninety six percent of all programs and
policies that deal with the environment are gonna be done by and
Patrolled by the states you're working with them to come up with a system that actually helps farmers and helps
Contractors helps the elderly who look at their land as their inheritance as well as their entire retirement
policies and instead of actually hurting people which many of the regulations and
Interpretations had over the past you're trying to come up with a set of rules that actually help people not help politically-motivated
Special interest groups, so I'm very proud of what you've done. I support it. Thank you. I still hate the socks
Thank You chairman and boy am I happy
I'm gonna go with the secretary and I but I'm just thankful. I went with the conservative stock choice today
That's not always the case. Ooh
Next I'd like to call the sage congressman Garrett craves from Louisiana. I
Knew the chairman Bishop had served in Congress for many years. I had no idea you would serve with George, Washington
learned lots of things for bad men
And like we know what these news stories are gonna say half of them are gonna say that
That we gave additional rights and farmers and private property rights and half of them are going to say that we've trashed the environment
Look, let's talk about facts for just a minute. Number one. You have multiple injunctions
You read the law and you look at the regulations that were proposed under the Obama administration
that's it recognisable how these things could possibly be compatible and the courts have found that the congressmen both the House and
Senate have stepped up and said that this is out of line
We simply asked you Obama administration to go back to the public to engage
Property owners farmers small business owners and others and to get additional feedback to perfect this rule and they refused to do it. I
Want to commend secretary zenki secretary sanski secretary James and an administrator wheeler
for actually getting the public's comments on this because we're a government that does represent the people I represent the state of
Louisiana in fact south, Louisiana that map is incredible
We represented we drained about 2/3 of the United States the continental divide everything in between including portions of Canada
New York Montana everything in between and again including portions of Canada we care about clean water
But coming in and proposing rules like this that maybe under the Obama administration
Maybe it would have worked for Arizona and New Mexico. It doesn't work for Louisiana
What's an ephemeral stream when you have a storm as we did two years ago that dropped 32 inches of water and ephemeral stream is?
Everything that it's there in south, Louisiana. It's everything
So look, this is common sense. It is compatible with the law
It is fixing the legal problems that the previous rule had and it's the right thing to do for our farmers
For our property owners and for our environment. Thank you
Well, thank you congressman and next I'd like to call the Western caucus Chairman Paul Gosar from Arizona to the stage
What the pen taketh from the people it can be given right back as long as Acting Administrator
Wheeler holds the reins at the EPA
That is that's a takeaway from today in my eyes the regulatory edits here
We're here to discuss will be maligned by the media as an attack on clean water
even though the United States had the cleanest waterways in the world during the decades prior to the Obama administration's
Wotus land and water grab the people of this country
Everyone raging for myself to president Donald Trump to Roseanne Barr Kathy Griffin and even Raul Grijalva
wants crystal clean water
But virtually no one genuinely thinks it's a good idea for the federal government
To monitor and control every last nook and cranny of the country in order to reach that goal
our entire economy would transform to resolve around monitoring chemical levels and
Discharges and point sources if we were to have that kind of top-down
system
complete overkill, but that's not far off from what the Obama administration error definition waters of the United States would require
Not only is this a crazy idea, but it's a widely considered to be
By legal experts to be out of line with the Clean Water Act not to mention the Commerce Clause of the Constitution
Like a villain in scooby-doo the past administration almost got away with is unparalleled expansion of federal power
Fortunately that legally dubious effort was unmasked for what it was by the Supreme Court and this administration
So I'm happy to be here today
To see some sanity restored to the Clean Water Act implementation
Thank you to the secretaries administrator
Wheeler your deputies and the President Trump for taking the lead and to crafting a definition that adheres to the original law
Promotes extremely clean and safe waterways and remains Federalist in its nature Merry Christmas
Thank You congressman next I'd like to call congressman Bill Johnson from Ohio
Well, I probably won't be as passionate nor as funny as some of my other colleagues, but I promise to be shorter
Hey, this is this is a big deal for the state of Ohio under the 2015 rule
You can't do coal mining operations
You can't do infrastructure projects. The interpretation of the 2015 rule is is
costing more it's
Causing permits
And the application process for those permits to go on and on and on forever
This is a big deal and the common-sense approach to collaborate with the states
Is the right thing to do nobody cares more about the air that we breathe and the water that we drink
Then those of us who live in those areas
where we have these issues and we're the ones that have to breathe it and
Drink it our state officials know how to do that. Well, and I just want to thank administrator wheeler
assistant secretary James
Secretaries thank you for all the work that they did
And bringing us to this point. Let's get this across the finish line. I look forward to helping
God bless you all. This is the right thing to do. Thanks
Thank You congressman next I'd like to hear from congressman Doug Lim wholethe from California
Well Secretary's a mystery, we're thank you from the bottom of my heart I'm a farmer in my real life as well
and so I'm especially
Attuned to what? The challenge is especially for my neighbors in Northern, California
Obviously this was put in place by Obama administration in 2015
Effectively expanding government control over all local land decisions and property rights our president Trump called
What is one of the worst examples of federal regulation?
Indeed the overreach is breathtaking for me for my neighbors for so many
Litigation this causes will effectively become law in over two dozen states including my home state of, California
The new rule is a big win, and I thank you
It will provide certainty for countless farmers ranchers builders in my district
but all across the west and all across the country who struggled to understand and
Apply this own owners regulation senator rounds talk use the word permission
now if you have to seek permission
That means someone is there
That can decide to grant you that permission or not and the process I've seen some of my local growers have to go through
Waiting three years
For a bureaucrat to decide if they're gonna give someone permission or not if they should choose to go through the permit process
Or just keep farming as they see fit
Which is exempt under the regulations as under congressional intent anyway
One farmer in particular John Guare team agreed in August 2017. He didn't agree
He was forced to to pay 1.1 million to the federal government for plowing over protected wetlands
Now who has 1 million dollars just to give the federal government because they mistakenly dissed their land
I disk my land for years and years
in reality
He did plan later to do orchards, but he shouldn't need a permit for them
so what we have is
Congressional intent indeed is supposed to protect people for the use of their land and
Now I know with this bold move and again, thank you all there will be criticism
The usual skies falling folks will be stepping up saying oh my gosh
This is gonna cause all massive amounts of pollution, please hang in there. Please be firm for us
you know, I have representative from California Jamie Johansen from Farm Bureau Kevin Kester and our Cattlemen's are here so
You know, please hang in there
You've done a lot of good work on getting the word out on this working with our administrators here and Congress. Let's win this
Let's keep it together, and I'm so pleased with this effort today. Thank you Ray Christmas to you all
Thank You congressman and Congressman got Bob Gibbs from Ohio, please join us on the stage
While it appears on the last congressional person talk to you so their first I want to thank and congratulate and really thank
and administrator wheeler and the secretaries for all the work they did and the Corps and all the work everybody else did and
It's so nice
It's so refreshing just listening in all the speech especially from these gentlemen
Because I heard common sense and that's something we haven't had in Washington since I've been here in the last
Eight years. So it's really refreshing to hear that. Also every farm Bureau State President is here
Is it and the president America farmers that we develop and I've learned?
Acknowledge my high office Farm Bureau president Frank Burgin is here
But that's how important that illustrates how important it is to American agriculture
When all the heads the Farm Bureau's show up here, they know this is one of their top issues
They they know the impact
You know, I like to I think that when the Clean Water Act was passed it was passed
It was set up to be a really a partnership between the feds and the states where the states would
implement and enforce it on kind under the guidance of the feds, but the
2015 Obama rule took all that away from the states
There was a power grab through at the Washington DC so we can have a one-size-fits-all policy and you know
It's been said here earlier today in all the speeches
One-size-fits-all policy doesn't work, especially when it comes to water. There's different things going on out there
And so let's you know this gets it back to where it has to be. It's common sense
and I feel like to say that I
kind of have a litmus test and it may be a
Are people here there have the agencies at there to enforce all the regulations are put out there
maybe they'll remember this litmus test that I think we should all go by because I believe that
American farmers American business people American people want to do the right thing. We want clean wire. We don't want it
We know we I live in a farm our farmer. We want to make sure that that water is clean
We know we first to drink it but we all know that the litmus test really is when a some new regulation comes across
Your desk as farmers or business people be nice if you read it and say, you know, this makes sense
We probably should be doing this versus why the heck we have to do this, you know
There's and in recent years has been too much of this. This doesn't make any sense and I will make a strong argument
that when government especially on Washington DC layers are more red more bureaucracy more duplicate regulations at
Some point farmers and business people that want to do the right thing
you're gonna throw their hands up in the air and go I
Just can't do all this and then they would they only do what to get by to get by with they don't do that
They'll go the extra mile. And so we have common sense. Come on, Washington
do you see we get government close to the people at the state and local level for them to work and work with our our
landowners and our
Municipalities and our cities and all villages and all that. This makes a lot of sense and this rules in the right direction
Okay, the 60-day comment period maybe we can even be improved
I don't know but it's I think it's a good start and it brings some common sense back and bring some certainty and
Transparency and puts it back to a local level where it should be
So congratulate you'll know and thank you for all the hard work that's been done because move forward and some common sense regulations
Come on, Washington DC to grow his economy. So I want to thank President Trump and his administration
For doing what they said they're going to do and we're getting there done. So thank you and Merry Christmas
Well, thank you congressman congressman mentioned about common sense
Transfer decision-making to the states. And so there's a nice transition for us
We're transitioning to a state representative the West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrissey will give us some remarks. Thank you
Well, thank you very much and it's a pleasure to be here with so many people from the EPA and not be suing them
This is a great time. I
Want to start out by saying I think today is critically important because the Trump administration
Truly understands that to protect the environment and our interstate waterways
You don't have to destroy business disrupt the economy and violate the rule of law and the Constitution
Based upon what we've seen so far
Looks like you guys got it. Just right
Now the state of West Virginia and the 30 state coalition that's been involved in this litigation over the last four years
We appreciate the ability to be here and West Virginia's played a central role helping to spearhead
Litigation against the 2015 rule we stepped up and we filed a lawsuit
Against that Obama era policy because we thought it had many legal defects
We thought clearly it violated the plain terms of the statute
it was inconsistent with the Administrative Procedures Act and
significantly
It really destroyed that
cooperative federalism regime that we've come to rely on in the regulation of our natural resources and
certainly impaired the Constitution
Dramatically overstating its authority over the interstate commerce clause and from a state perspective
violating the Tenth Amendment
we looked at that 2015 rule and we knew that we have to step up and take action and we
Had that coalition that went into court that got to stay in many parts of the country
Thankfully now we have an administration to work with that can actually put in into all that regulatory access
but one thing I saw traveling around West Virginia over the last year is
That this rule, not only violated the rule of law it violated common sense
Everywhere I went and I would talk to property owners and farmers
they would know did you can't regulate a backyard ditch the way you'd regulate the Potomac and the
Mississippi and the Ohio and that's why West Virginians are deeply appreciative of the Trump administration
And the EPA for the actions that it's taking today
And we're gonna take a pretty close. Look at this rule, but we believe based upon what's been described
this proposed rule is going to remedy many of those legal defects that we saw in the
2015 rule and I can say to everyone here the state of West Virginia
Stands ready willing and able to assist this administration to defend it against the inevitable lawsuits
Unfounded lawsuits that will likely come our way from today
So I'd like to thank everyone for the ability to be here and we look forward to working with you
It's helped insure that West Virginia and all the states
Properly retained their rights to regulate the way the Constitution envisioned appreciate it
Thank You general Marcy
Next I'd like to introduce a speaker from a department that I'm spending a lot of my time actually working to repair the relationship
between the Department of Agriculture and EPA over the years
I think they've worked in conflict and I'm proud to announce that we're working with bill Northey and team
To really try to repair that relationship through the agencies are working together
Collaborating our resources to address the environmental challenges of our of our country. So thank you for being here
It's my distinct pleasure to introduce deputy secretary
Stephen sense key from the US Department of Agriculture
Thank you, David and what a great day
This is for us agriculture secretary Perdue and I along with all of our nation's farmers and ranchers
Really welcomed this action from the EPA and the Army Corps
It brings clarity to the regulations to help farmers and landowners know where that federal
jurisdiction begins and Anne's
USDA is very proud to stand here with our federal family partners in support of this proposed
revisions to the wotus rule
farmers and ranchers and landowners
manage much of the land that is subject and
potentially impacted by the Clean Water Act
And so getting that boundary right of where that federal jurisdiction
Begins and ends is very very important. It is one of the most important reforms that this administration can make
farmers and ranchers as you know
Our exceptional stewards of the environment and they have the interest in taking care of their own land and we also have of course
Effective standards in place from the states to make sure that our local waterways are protected
among farmers and ranchers and frankly rural Americans in general
The wotus rule was singled out as the biggest example of federal overreach where they thought that the federal government
Action just did not make sense
and so this action today really does make sense to
America's farmers and ranchers, and we're very pleased to stand in support of it. Thank you
Thank You secretary next I'd like to introduce someone who sat in the first chair on the stage thinking he'd go first
But we apologize about that. I'm just kidding. Zippy Duvall from American Farm Bureau Federation
The president American Farm Bureau Federation. Thank you for joining us. If you take the podium, we appreciate that
Well, thank you
And we're very very proud to be here today
And I want to say thank you to you and your staff for all the great work and the President of the United States leading
the charge
You know
I'm here
To represent six million members of American Farm Bureau and the State Farm Bureau's across this country and I have the 50 state
presidents with me and I'd like for them to just stand up and let you see who
Represents the farmers and ranchers from around the country. Please stand if your state president Farm Bureau
About five years ago when was ruling was released and we realized how what a huge it was the largest
federal land grab in
The history of this country and we knew that it was going to affect
American farmers ability to feed our people across the country and across the world and we
Knew that we had to do something drastic to bring attention to the disaster that was facing us with this new rule
So we started a little campaign that called it ditch the rule and this ditch through campaign called on all across
rural America, and we educated our people to test to how intrusive it was to our
Private property rights taking away the right for us to take care of our land the way we knew best
see, I'm
Fourth generation on my farm my son is fifth and my grandson will be the six
We fish in the waters around my pond Myra farm
We form our land like it's part of our family
We take care of our animals because the better we are to them the better they are to us
We do all the right things to make sure that we can pass this piece of land on
to our to our
Children and our grandchildren in better shape than what we received it
That's what our farmers and ranchers stand for and do each and every day and they just want the right
To do what's best for the land because no one no one in the country
no one in Washington or and in in the
English capital knows
how best to take care of that land then the men and women that live on it until it and take care of it every
day
So we thank you for giving us that right back to us
You know, I remember early on when I came here three years ago. I was asked
What is the new waters of the US Reuben looked like?
And I said one we need to be able to take that rule and sit in an hour
Trucks and drive across our land and say yes
That is the waters of the US and no I know that's not rather than have to go hire some lawyer or some
Consultant and pay them hundreds of thousands of dollars
To come and tell us about our land that we know better than they do will ever know
This gives us what we want
We wanted clear rules clean water and clear rules and thank you
That's what we wanted and we think that this ruling does that for us?
it is just a
Just a few years ago, I remember when the inauguration was going on and I was
Honored to be asked to drive one of the tractors in the first tractor brigade in a network nagua
parade of a President of the United States and I had my iPad and
In a tractor waiting for my time to leave and I was listening to the inauguration. Speech
And president Trump reference given this government back to the people
And then I saw mr. Sonny perdue come from georgia be Secretary of Agriculture
And one of his thing's was I want to tear down every barrier in front
of the farmers and ranchers so they can do what they do best and
Then I come here today and I hear the administrator of EPA
Say that we want a clear ruling so that we can protect our waters and let our farmers and ranchers
Do what they do best. I
Think
That the government is being give back to the people through this administration just a little story that sums it up
On that farm that I live on and I'm my grandad come back in the 20s and he built a big round top barn
We see them all over this country
It's red and it's lined and white
And it is the centerpiece of my farm because it represents my heritage
That I'm so proud of just like these men and women that come with me today
And one day we have light shining upon it so at night it just it's the center
And everybody sees it when they ride down the road and one night
My grandson was in my arms and we was walking up the hill
And the lights were shining past us and there was a big shadow
Of myself and him on that front of that barn it covered the whole barn
And he caused me be pop and he says be pop
big man tonight
The whole ruling put a big man in our backyard to watch over our shoulder
And dictate everything that we could do with our land
today
The big man's gone. I can go home and tell my grandson
We're welcome to do what we're supposed to be doing best
and let's take care of our land and resources on it so that we can produce the food and fiber for this great country and
this great people
Thank You mr. Administrator
Thank You, mr
President for giving us the Christmas present of a lifetime and that's the right to do what we do best
Thank you. God bless you and Merry Christmas
Thank You, mr. Duvall and I want to take a moment as we work to develop
Common-sense policy across this country both for this and other areas that we're working on
I want to thank you and your presidents and more importantly your members
For allowing my leadership team to go out in the countryside and be welcomed onto America's farms
Despite the title of my agency. We are working to restore the trust we have small work to do
But I want to thank you and your members for for allowing us access to try to restore that trust. So, thank you. So
Next I'd like to introduce the CEO of the National Association of Homebuilders Jerry Howard to the podium. Thank you
Thank you all very much on behalf of the nine million people employed in the residential construction sector I'm thrilled to be up here today
Uncertainty and overreach that's what the theme is here when you have uncertainty and overreach
It makes it incredibly difficult to build American homes
Over the eight years of the Obama
Administration the cot the regulatory regulatory cost of compliance reached 25 percent on average in America
25% of the cost of every new home is compliance with regulations
That compliance is magnified
The cost of that compliance is magnified when there is uncertainty
attached to it
when a builder can't look out on the property that he's bought to provide affordable homes for Americans and know that he can build and
He has to hire consultants and lawyers who pays the cost of that the American homeowner
Right. Now the cost of home ownership is at its lowest affordability rate in the last 10 years
The repeal of the 2015 rule is a good first step in restoring common sense and
Restoring America's commitment to affordable housing for all citizens
secretaries Enki
Administrator wheeler President Trump the home builders of America and more importantly the home buyers of America
Thank you for putting common sense and certainty back into the law. Thank you very much. Merry Christmas
Thank You, mr. Howard next I'd like to invite the president of the National Association of Manufacturers J Timmins to the podium
Well, thank you very much you know, this this announcement is
critical to the nearly 13 million men and women who work in the manufacturing sector
it's a step forward for manufacturers for our country and for
Responsible environmental stewardship throughout the trump administration
manufacturers have been given significant tools
that we need to enhance our competitiveness and namely those are tax reform and and regulatory certainty and with
Those tools manufacturers have made a commitment a commitment
To the people of this country to invest to hire and to raise wages and benefits and today's announcement
Allows us to do even more
The kind of overreach that we saw with the 2015 waters rule put manufacturing jobs at risk
It meant that companies large and small wastes time energy and resources
Trying to navigate pointless
jurisdictional fights
So at the National Association of Manufacturers, we spoke out we made our case with the EPA and with the courts
smart water policy is
absolutely vital for all of us
after all this earth is the only home that we have and
manufacturers intend to leave it better
Than we found it
manufacturers simply ask for regulatory certainty
we promised that when we have that certainty and
We also have smart regulations
then we're going to be able to do our part to make our air and our water cleaner in our environment healthier and
We intend to keep that promise
so secretaries Enki
Administrator wheeler
I do like the sound of that and all of you here
Thank you so much for your work on this important rule today
The EPA has done the right thing in our environment and our economy will both be better for it. Thanks so much
Well, we've heard from our federal partners we've heard from our elected officials on the hill
We've heard from our state colleagues. We've also heard from our regulated community and I can make this commitment
We will continue to listen as we develop common-sense regulation for the American public
Well, we we have a mission at the agency to protect human health in the environment
you also must balance that against our obligations to
Provide certainty regulatory clarity and understand that there is without a strong economy. We cannot pay for
The wrought laws and regulations that that we have to implement. So thank you for everyone for your
Presentations today we will continue to listen as we develop additional regulations in the future as we work to finalize this rule
With this, I think at this point, I'm going to turn it over to John caucus
I think we're gonna take a few questions from the press
Is is that right? Do I have this right? All right, John won't you come on over you need the mic?
Administrator would you like to close it up?
For questions. I'm happy to listen to questions from the press. All right. Thank you
Maybe answer them
Do you wanna join us?
Well, we certainly been working on the proposal for a year and a half now I believe
You know president Trump directed us in the executive order last year to follow the Scalia decision Rapanos case, which is what we did
So we didn't make any specific changes to
reflexive
Justice Kennedy's
Retirement that you know, some of it was written after he retired obviously, but we did not take that into account
a
Rene Marsh with CNN. Yeah
I do I have to just to make sure you can hear me. Thank you
So no, I just put out a report saying that the Arctic is the warmest it's ever been
It's like unlike anything on record. I wanted to know have you seen that report?
Do you have any concerns about the content of that report?
and
Are you thinking about any policies to react to the findings in that report?
Are you referring to the the assessment that came out a couple weeks ago? Oh
No, I've not seen that yet
I'm happy to take a look at it and I'm sure I will I'm not saying that I've not seen the no report yet. Okay
General question for both you and if secretary Zinke you want to chime in as well?
The American delegation as you all know are in Poland
promoting fossil fuel
At that meeting they erupted many protesters erupted in laughter. It appears that
The world is laughing at the United States stands as it relates to climate change. What is your response?
Well, right, I don't think a planned
Protest it can be considered the entire world laughing
I think those were the protesters as you as you noted, but you know
I'd also note that you know under president Trump's leadership. We've reduced our co2 emissions from 2016 to 2017 by it's 2.7 percent
overall, the United States has reduced the co2 emissions 14.5 percent since
2005 we have our ace proposal for the left
Our sector which would after it's implemented will reduce co2 emissions from the electric power sector by 30-some percent
We can get you the exact number at some 30 some percent
And the café's standard will also reduce co2 emissions
we are moving forward, but we're not moving forward in a in a
detrimental impact for our economy as what the Paris climate Accord would have called for and I'd also point out and point this out when
I was at the g7
Environmental ministers meeting and Halifax that we are reducing our co2 emissions faster than most others other developed countries
So we have our own plan. We're moving forward
we're addressing the issue or we're just not doing it to to negatively impact our economy at the
To the benefit of our competitors such as China or India or other countries that are not following the Paris climate Accord
Thank you. I don't think
United States the world's largest oil and gas producer in this on the world
That was not possible a few years ago
First time in six years were exporting liquid natural gas
Environmentally
It is better to produce energy in this country
Under a reasonable regulation that watch get introduced overseas with nutin
If you don't believe me, I'll take care of a few tours of where I've been as a Navy SEAL
You want to look at environmental disasters of how to produce energy. I'll invite you to Africa in the Middle East
Secondly manufacturing
Cost of steel it's about the same and it's Birgit is South Korea
Labor class we can't compete with China nor do we want to
What makes America manufacturing move is innovation?
technology and a cost of energy
and lastly morally I
Spent 23 years a Navy SEAL. I know if you have grandchildren or kids but I don't want your kids to see what I say
I'd rather not this country ever be held hostage by foreign nations on our energy needs
And all I ever see are our kids have to deploy overseas and fight for a commodity we have here
The fact that matter is we do it better than the other country
Co2 is down methane's down overall emissions is down in this country as compared to
Europe up
Russia up China way up India way up
That's America
So I'm proud the fact that we're the number one oil and gas producer in this country
I'm proud to fact that we're gonna get even better
Because when America prospers the world is safer
Hiya Zack Hale with S&P global market intelligence. I was just wondering
There's there's been a lot of attention on how this revised definition treats
Wetlands and I was just wondering if the agencies conducted any analysis
to you know to measure how much or how fewer
Wetlands would be covered under this definition
compared to the previous definition
First of all wetlands that are adjacent to any of the other categories that are considered waters the US are protected I
Listed the six categories the sixth one was wetlands wetlands adjacent to all the previous five are protected
we are following as I said the Clean Water Act and the three Supreme Court decisions including swank which which talked about
Isolated wetlands not being included under the definition
We've not done and nobody has in the history of the agency a detailed mapping of all the wetlands in the country
Part of what we're trying to do is work with the states to develop a system to do that going forward
So we don't have the final numbers
Which also means that the numbers have been thrown around over the last 24 hours the 60% the 80% are not accurate
we are looking at that but we want to make sure that they that the wetlands that are adjacent to waters the US will be
protected and in addition to that
Park
restoration work which includes wetlands on around the Great Lakes
Chesapeake Bay the Everglades the Gulf Coast
those are all still be protected and we're all we're still working with those states and
Local governments to protect and restore those wetlands as well
Thank you
Hi David Schultz with Bloomberg environment I
Noticed that you had several members of Congress speak here today
But they were all from the Republican Party. I'm wondering if you worked with any Democrats on developing this
Proposal given that they are now going to be taking back control of the house. And if so,
What impacted you or what input of theirs did you?
Put into this proposal
We certainly heard from a number of the Democratic members of the House and the Senate
I can't tell you off the top of my head what we what we changed in the
Proposal based on their on their comments and input we've received a number of letters
and in hearings where I've testified another than the last year but my confirmation as well as the
Senate EPW hearing we heard from members of of Congress and we heard from a
lot of members of Congress and dicin senators on the Democratic side who wanted us to
redress the 2015 definition and you know a number of them voted for the
for the legislation that Senator Ernst mentioned that the President Obama vetoed
This will be the last question
Thank you Steve Davies with Ag repulse here in town
I was just wondering you have a 60-day comment period that the previous
Wotus proposal I believe had a comment period of over 200 days
Would you would you consider?
Lengthening that and also I just as a quick follow how many public hearings are you going to be having on this?
We haven't set a number yet on the public hearings that I'm that I'm aware of
I'm looking at my system is traitor
We have a set number or yeah
we intend to do one public hearing and also three regional listening sessions and meetings with our stakeholders states and tribes and
Webinars and lots of other all materials and on the comments, you know
We asked for comments in the development of this proposal
We received over 6,000 comments that helped inform our decisions going into the development of this proposal. We are
Looking at just a 60-day comment period but that's 60 days after it's published in the Federal Register
We're going to be putting it on our website shortly after this event
And it probably won't appear in the in the web on the and the Federal Register for another two three
Maybe even four weeks with the holidays
but people will be able to read it sometime over the next 24 hours and then have a 60 day comment period
Thank you, and thank you all for attending. I want to thank in particular
The Farm Bureau presidents who traveled here from across the country
Thank you so much for your attendance today
And please everyone please comment on the proposal
We want to hear what you have to say both people here in the room and people watching this or reading about it. Later
We want to make sure that we get this right and we want to hear from everyone on all sides of the issue. So
That we make sure that we are putting forward the best most clear and concise definition
So that all of you will be able to stand on your own
Property and be able to tell for yourself whether or not it's a federal jurisdictional waterway. Thank you for coming today
You
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