The Patriot Post® · EPA Expands Jurisdiction

“The Obama administration Tuesday proposed new rules aimed at putting more small bodies of water and wetlands under Clean Water Act protections, a move criticized by business groups, Republicans and a few Democrats,” reports The Wall Street Journal. The EPA swears these new rules won’t be intrusive while also protecting the environment. But as Kevin Kelly, president of the National Association of Home Builders, explained, “EPA has added just about everything into its jurisdiction by expanding the definition of a ‘tributary,’” and by doing so, it will drastically increase the number of properties requiring special permits. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) worried, “If EPA is not careful, this rule could effectively give the federal government control of nearly all of our state – and prove to be a showstopper for both traditional access and new development.” That about sums up the EPA’s mission.