Colorado Gov. Polis denounces EPA's new water rules
Colorado Gov. Polis denounces EPA's new water rules
On Thursday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the
Department of the Army finalized the Navigable Waters Protection Rule,
which replaces the Waters of the United States Act approved by the Obama
administration in 2015.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis immediately denounced the move, calling it a plan “to gut federal clean water protections.”
The
revised definition identifies four clear categories of waters that are
federally regulated under the Clean Water Act: the territorial seas and
traditional navigable waters; perennial and intermittent tributaries;
certain lakes, ponds, and impoundments; and wetlands that are adjacent
to jurisdictional waters.
The four categories now recognize the
nation’s navigable waters and the core tributary systems that flow into
those waters. The new rule would help ensure that traditional navigable
waters, like the South Platte River and Cherry Creek; perennial
tributaries, such as Monument Creek, which flows into Fountain Creek and
then the Arkansas River; intermittent tributaries such as East Creek
which flows into the Gunnison River on the west slope; certain lakes,
ponds, and impoundments, such as Lake Quivira on Silver Creek; and
wetlands that are adjacent to jurisdictional waters are protected, said
EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler.
“EPA and the Army (Corps of
Engineers) are providing much needed regulatory certainty and
predictability for American farmers, landowners and businesses to
support the economy and accelerate critical infrastructure projects,”
Wheeler announced to the media Thursday. “After decades of landowners
relying on expensive attorneys to determine what water on their land may
or may not fall under federal regulations, our new Navigable Waters
Protection Rule strikes the proper balance between Washington and the
states in managing land and water resources while protecting our
nation’s navigable waters, and it does so within the authority Congress
provided.”
The changes become effective 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.
The decision is “welcome news,” said Troy Schneider, president of the Colorado Corn Administrative Committee.
“It
puts small bodies of water back into the hands successfully managing
them all along – state and local governments. And gives farmers, land
and business owners a way to keep protecting the environment without
threat of government action,” Schneider said.
Earlier in the year, the Colorado Department of Public Health and
Environment, Colorado Department of Natural Resources, and Colorado
Department of Agriculture collectively rebuked the EPA’s proposal.
“The EPA’s announcement today is alarming as it puts our
precious waters at risk. Every Coloradan, and so many others from
neighboring states, are dependent on Colorado’s healthy waterways,” said
Jill Hunsaker Ryan, executive director, Colorado Department of Public
Health and Environment. “At the department, regardless of what happens
at the federal-level, we’ll always be committed to the health of our
waters. Healthy waters mean healthy Coloradans.”
Polis vows to challenge the changes adopted by the Trump Administration.
“In
Colorado, we value our clean water. Our rivers, streams, and lakes
serve as the lifeblood of our communities and help support our thriving
outdoor and agriculture industries,” Polis said Thursday. “Our
administration will continue to reject attempts by the Trump
administration to gut proven ways to protect our health and
environment.”
Colorado Gov. Polis denounces EPA’s new water rules
On Thursday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the
Department of the Army finalized the Navigable Waters Protection Rule,
which replaces the Waters of the United States Act approved by the Obama
administration in 2015.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis immediately denounced the move, calling it a plan “to gut federal clean water protections.”
The
revised definition identifies four clear categories of waters that are
federally regulated under the Clean Water Act: the territorial seas and
traditional navigable waters; perennial and intermittent tributaries;
certain lakes, ponds, and impoundments; and wetlands that are adjacent
to jurisdictional waters.
The four categories now recognize the
nation’s navigable waters and the core tributary systems that flow into
those waters. The new rule would help ensure that traditional navigable
waters, like the South Platte River and Cherry Creek; perennial
tributaries, such as Monument Creek, which flows into Fountain Creek and
then the Arkansas River; intermittent tributaries such as East Creek
which flows into the Gunnison River on the west slope; certain lakes,
ponds, and impoundments, such as Lake Quivira on Silver Creek; and
wetlands that are adjacent to jurisdictional waters are protected, said
EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler.
“EPA and the Army (Corps of
Engineers) are providing much needed regulatory certainty and
predictability for American farmers, landowners and businesses to
support the economy and accelerate critical infrastructure projects,”
Wheeler announced to the media Thursday. “After decades of landowners
relying on expensive attorneys to determine what water on their land may
or may not fall under federal regulations, our new Navigable Waters
Protection Rule strikes the proper balance between Washington and the
states in managing land and water resources while protecting our
nation’s navigable waters, and it does so within the authority Congress
provided.”
The changes become effective 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.
The decision is “welcome news,” said Troy Schneider, president of the Colorado Corn Administrative Committee.
“It
puts small bodies of water back into the hands successfully managing
them all along – state and local governments. And gives farmers, land
and business owners a way to keep protecting the environment without
threat of government action,” Schneider said.
Earlier in the year, the Colorado Department of Public Health and
Environment, Colorado Department of Natural Resources, and Colorado
Department of Agriculture collectively rebuked the EPA’s proposal.
precious waters at risk. Every Coloradan, and so many others from
neighboring states, are dependent on Colorado’s healthy waterways,” said
Jill Hunsaker Ryan, executive director, Colorado Department of Public
Health and Environment. “At the department, regardless of what happens
at the federal-level, we’ll always be committed to the health of our
waters. Healthy waters mean healthy Coloradans.”
Polis vows to challenge the changes adopted by the Trump Administration.
“In
Colorado, we value our clean water. Our rivers, streams, and lakes
serve as the lifeblood of our communities and help support our thriving
outdoor and agriculture industries,” Polis said Thursday. “Our
administration will continue to reject attempts by the Trump
administration to gut proven ways to protect our health and
environment.”
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