Pruitt Continues Tour Discussing WOTUS Repeal

Much of this summer, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt has traveled across the United States talking with farmers, ranchers and landowners.  Pruitt is discussing the 2015 WOTUS he is rolling back- and what a new and improved WOTUS Rule should have.  Pruitt said the Listening Tour is helping him get the input to help a new rule, which could be released as early as this September.

“As we develop a new definition of what a Water of the United States is that it provides objective criteria that farmers and ranchers know where federal jurisdiction begins and ends.  That didn’t happen in 2015, it will happen with the new rule.  And were going to respect private property rights.  We know farmers and ranchers are the first environmentalists. And that they care about their land and they’re going to be partners in this process, not adversaries.”

Pruitt says his goal is regulatory certainty.

“We want folks knowing whether the rules apply to them or not, so that they know how to appropriate issues and allocate resources to comply and do what’s necessary. So, we want to make sure the statute and the regulations match, that we have objective criteria, as we engage in rulemaking so that people know what is expected of them so that they can plan and allocate resources accordingly.”

The public comment period on the proposal to rescind WOTUS runs through August 28^th.

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