Clean Water Act Bill Passes Committee
A bill has been approved by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee that would prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from finalizing and implementing 2011 guidance to clarify the scope of Clean Water Act jurisdiction. H.R. 4965 also would block the two agencies from using the guidance as the basis for promulgating any rules or issuing any decisions.
The bill would make EPA and the Corps use guidance that was finalized during the Bush administration. The bill was written by Representative John Mica of Florida, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. It has several co-sponsors including the leaders of the House Agriculture Committee: Chairman Frank Lucas and ranking member Collin Peterson.