AFPI Statement on EPA and Army Corps of Engineers’ Proposed WOTUS Rule

Washington, D.C. —The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) supports today’s proposed rule by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) that aligns the definitions of Waters of the United States (WOTUS) and the Clean Water Act (CWA) with the Supreme Court's 2023 Sackett vs. EPA decision. 

“This long overdue update ensures that small bodies of water—such as ponds, ditches, and seasonal puddles—are not subjected to unnecessary federal regulations,” said Ambassador Carla Sands, Chair of Foreign Policy Initiative and Senior Fellow for Energy Policy. “Farmers, ranchers, small business owners, and energy producers have been waiting for this commonsense reform that restores clarity and limits federal overreach.” 

“The idea that every puddle or rain-filled depression on private land requires federal oversight assumes that human activity is inherently negative to the environment,” said Kip Tom, Vice Chair of Rural Policy. “In reality, America’s farmers and landowners are among the nation’s best stewards of national resources.” 

AFPI looks forward to reviewing the proposed rule in detail and working with the administration to finalize a clear, durable and narrowly tailored definition of WOTUS that provides lasting certainty for landowners and producers across America.