EPA Still Plans Final WOTUS

Chief McCarthy 'Not Unhappy' With Congressional Policy Riders

Jerry Hagstrom
By  Jerry Hagstrom , DTN Political Correspondent
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy still plans to finalize the Waters of the United States revision in the Clean Water Act in 2015. (Photo courtesy of EPA)

FAIRFAX, Va. (DTN) -- Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy said Tuesday that congressional restrictions on EPA's activities in the omnibus appropriations bill will not prevent EPA from enforcing the law.

McCarthy still plans to finalize the Waters of the United States revision in the Clean Water Act in 2015.

Speaking of the provision to stop implementation of the Interpretive Rule on agricultural exemptions accompanying Waters of the U.S. proposal and other environmental policy riders in the omnibus, McCarthy said, "I am not unhappy with what went through the legislature."

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Farmers had already registered their displeasure with the Interpretive Rule, which, McCarthy noted, had been published to try to give farmers assurance that their normal farming and ranching practices are exempt from EPA regulation.

McCarthy said her staff had not yet discussed whether to reissue the Interpretive Rule. She added that EPA needs to communicate better with farmers and ranchers.

The omnibus appropriations bill does not stop EPA from finalizing the Waters of the U.S. rule, and McCarthy said she is "still looking at spring" to release a final rule.

McCarthy said she wants to make sure the work of a scientific advisory committee and the comments EPA has received are taken into consideration.

Republican members of Congress have said, however, that they hope to block release of the final rule after they take control of the Senate as well as the House in January.

(CC/AG)

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Jerry Hagstrom