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N.D. (NewsDakota.com) Senator John Hoeven pressed U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to work with him to eliminate the proposed “Waters of the United States” rule and to address widespread concern among farmers and ranchers about the regulation that would expand Environmental Protection Agency authority to regulate small wetlands, creeks, stock ponds and ditches under the Clean Water Act.

Hoeven says “Our farmers and ranchers are very concerned that the EPA is trying to step in and make land-use decision for them. We’re working to eliminate the proposed Waters of the U.S. regulation as it is clearly bureaucratic overreach.”

On March 25, the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released a proposed rule that includes broad new definitions of the scope of “waters of the United States” that fall under the jurisdiction of the CWA. The proposed definition could apply to a countless number of small wetlands, creeks, stock ponds, and ditches that are typically regulated at a state level. This expansion of the EPA’s regulatory authority would have significant economic impacts for property owners who would likely be hit with new federal permits, compliance costs and threats of significant fines.

Hoeven is cosponsoring the Protecting Water and Property Rights Act of 2014, legislation that would prevent the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers from finalizing its March 2014 proposed rule, which would significantly expand federal authority under the CWA.