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Collins denounces state's effort to overturn Trump decision on waters rule

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

Congressman Chris Collins (NY-27) today denounced actions by New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman to bring a lawsuit against the Trump Administration’s decision to either rescind or revise the Waters of The United States (WOTUS) rule imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under President Obama.

In 2015, the Obama Administration finalized their WOTUS rule giving the EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) expanded jurisdiction over bodies of water including farm ponds, storm drains, and wetlands. The Obama rule, if implemented, would have increased permitting costs, lead to unnecessary litigation, and pile on red tape for anything from a construction site to a farm.  Adoption of the flawed WOTUS rule will have disastrous effects on agriculture, small business, and municipalities across the country. 

Realizing how devastating the Obama edict would be to local farmers and communities, President Trump signed an executive order in February 2017 to roll back the WOTUS rule. The Trump executive order instructed the EPA and USACE to begin the process of withdrawing the Obama rule with the EPA filing paperwork to suspend the rule for two years while they work to replace it.

“Yet again we are seeing Attorney General Eric Schneiderman catering to the liberal left and disregarding anything that is good for Western New York,” Collins said. “He continues to meddle with federal policy by supporting an Obama rule that would create confusion, increase costs, and place huge burdens on our nation’s farms, state governments, manufacturers, and just about any type of business resulting in detrimental economic impacts.”

Collins has been a vocal advocate for withdrawing and rewriting the Obama WOTUS rule since he was elected to Congress, something that has received strong bipartisan support in the House of Representatives. Implementing Obama's rule would contradict two Supreme Court decisions, as well as many state and tribal water laws. 

Collins added: “It is ironic that as we are heading into an election year, we are seeing more and more frivolous lawsuits from the Cuomo Administration and his left-wing allies. It is sad that instead of figuring out how to cut New York’s bloated budget and protect New York property owners and businesses, Cuomo and Schneiderman continue their never-ending effort to score political points at the cost of our State’s economy and the taxpayers who pay the bills.”

Julie Morales

“Implementing Obama's rule would contradict two Supreme Court decisions, as well as many state and tribal water laws.”

Such as? Name them. Some of us require FACTS. If it’s “contradicting” so very many state laws, they should be easy for him to list. And I am so sure Collins gives a rat’s behind about “tribal laws.” Who does he think he’s kidding?

If the “Obama rule” is unconstitutional, prove it.

Deregulation serves NONE of “..the taxpayers who pay the bills.” And Mr. Collins knows that.

Feb 6, 2018, 4:07pm Permalink
Scott Chismar

It amazes me that 8 people have taken the time to vote "thumbs down" to Tim Miller's reply. For the life of me, I will never understand what folks like these can be thinking. Do we really need to stop and think about how important clean and safe drinking water is? Take a trip out to The Falls and see the Love Canal mess. Read a bit about the Corporate Greed in Flint, MI that has resulted in dangerous levels of lead. I think we should thank AG Schneiderman for taking the steps necessary to assure our water is safe. Once again, another shameful stance by Chris Collins and his 1% mentality.

Feb 7, 2018, 12:22pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Scott, the assumption in your comment is that the water rules in question have even one small thread of connection to actually keeping waters clean and safe. That's a HUGE assumption and not backed by empirical evidence. There is no reason to believe the rules and promulgated would do anything to keep waters clean. What there is ample evidence to support is the rules are a major unnecessary burden on farmers.

Feb 7, 2018, 1:09pm Permalink

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