IPAA: Waters of the U.S. Rule Hurts All American Landowners, Including U.S. Energy Producers

IPAA: Waters of the U.S. Rule Hurts All American Landowners, Including U.S. Energy Producers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) Executive Vice President Lee Fuller released the following statement on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) final rulemaking to revise the definition of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS):

“It comes as little surprise that this long-awaited final rule significantly expands the federal government’s authority over land and water use across the nation, affecting all American landowners. From farming to golf course management and home building to energy development, this new federal mandate will require landowners to obtain additional government permits and fulfill bureaucratic regulatory requirements.

“Increased federal jurisdiction over nearly all waters in the United States will create substantial permitting and compliance burdens for few environmental benefits. The impacts of this rule go beyond American energy development. There are serious concerns about retroactive applications of the rulemaking and added costs on business operations. This regulatory regime will result in far more significant economic impacts and unintended consequences than the Obama Administration is leading the American people to believe.”

The 297-page rulemaking would require a federal permit for any activity that results in a discharge into any body of water covered by the new definition of “waters of the United States,” including small streams and wetlands. IPAA disagrees with the need for the rule and has argued against expanded federal jurisdiction for years. IPAA, along with other industry groups, submitted robust comments on the proposed rulemaking in 2014. IPAA submitted additional comments with the Waters Advocacy Coalition, which has been active in educating policy makers on the impacts of expanded federal jurisdiction over waters.

About the Independent Petroleum Association of America
The Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) is the leading, national upstream trade association representing oil and natural gas producers that drill 95 percent of the nation’s oil and natural gas wells. These companies account for 54 percent of America’s oil production, 85 percent of its natural gas production, and support over 2.1 million American jobs.

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