Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry President and CEO Gene Barr recently issued a statement applauding the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s announcement that it will repeal and replace the Obama administration’s “Waters of the United States” rule.
“As we noted in our comments to the Environmental Protection Agency in 2014, the ‘Waters of the United States’ rule would have significantly expanded federal jurisdiction to waters already being sufficiently protected by Pennsylvania’s water quality rules. This would have resulted in not only saddling businesses with additional confusion over what requirements apply but the potential for significant civil penalties stemming from that lack of clarity. That rule would have cost the United States economic gain for the sake of negligible environmental benefits. We are pleased to see the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers move forward with a rulemaking process that incorporates the concerns, goals, and shared priorities of all stakeholders. It is our hope that this process will result in the development of a durable, workable rule that provides certainty to industry and protection to the environment.”
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler and Department of the Army Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works R.D. James announced the repeal and planned replacement of the rule on Sept. 12.