WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) co-sponsored a joint resolution introduced by U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) disapproving the Waters of the United States rule, commonly known as WOTUS.

The rule, submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE), expands the scope of federal authority over land and waterways in the United States under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, and threatens to impede small businesses, agriculture and coal and natural gas production. The resolution co-sponsored by Senator Capito would nullify the rule, sending a message to the EPA and ACE that they failed to address the concerns raised by West Virginians and affected parties across the country.

“This deeply flawed rule promises to impede the livelihoods of hardworking West Virginians and job creators throughout the country,” said Senator Capito. “There is no question that we want to protect our drinking water sources and our precious natural resources, but this rule would lead to a massive expansion of costly permitting requirements and hinder our already struggling economy. It is time to put an end to this regulatory nightmare.”

A copy of the full resolution is available here.

Senator Capito is also a cosponsor of Senator John Barrasso’s (R-Wyo.) bipartisan legislation which provides clear principles and directions for the EPA and ACE to craft a WOTUS rule that takes into consideration positions held by key stakeholders, without causing additional harmful and unnecessary government regulations.

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