Murkowski Welcomes Revised WOTUS Rule
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today issued the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposed rule to reset the burdensome Waters of the United States (WOTUS) regulation imposed by the previous administration in 2015. Murkowski spoke at the signing ceremony at EPA headquarters this morning, alongside a number of administration and congressional leaders.
“This is a big deal for Alaska that should help end years of concern, frustration, and uncertainty over a costly regulation that would have halted construction projects and other economic opportunities,” Senator Murkowski said. “This new proposal will protect water quality while providing clarity on the scope of regulation and restoring balance to the state and federal relationship. I look forward to working with EPA and the Army Corps to make sure it is effective and workable for Alaskans.”
As chairman of the Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Murkowski included language in her funding bills for FY16 and FY17 blocking implementation of the previous administration’s WOTUS rule. In May 2018, during an oversight hearing to examine the president’s FY19 budget request for the EPA, Murkowski asked previous EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt about the agency’s plans to reexamine the WOTUS rule, urging it be updated with a more common-sense proposal.
The revised WOTUS rule is available here.
