05.26.15

Sullivan Reacts to EPA’s Final WOTUS Rule


WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) released the following statement today after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its final “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule.

“With Alaska already home to more waters under the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act than any other state in the country, the EPA’s attempt to expand the definition of what constitutes the Waters of the United States impacts no state more than my own,” said Sen. Sullivan. “After multiple hearings both in Washington and in Alaska, it is clear that Americans from vastly different industries, ideologies and regions are clearly opposed to the scope of this rule and the process through which it was crafted.  Despite this strong opposition, and dubious legal authority, the EPA has chosen to disregard Congress, and move ahead with a rule that could severely impact the nation."

“It is imperative that we move to quickly pass S. 1140, the Federal Water Quality Protection Act, bipartisan legislation that I co-sponsored, which would not only help to clarify jurisdiction and prevent unlawful federal overreach, but it would also help to ensure that the protection of Alaska’s precious resources remain in the hands of those who live near and rely on them.”

Since arriving to the Senate in January of 2015, Senator Sullivan has worked aggressively, with a bipartisan group of colleagues in pushing back against this federal overreach.

February 4th: Senator Sullivan challenged Administrator McCarthy at a joint EPW/House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing on where the EPA derives the legal authority to move forward with the WOTUS rule.

April 6th: Senator Sullivan, chairman of the EPW Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife, held a field hearing in Anchorage, Alaska to examine the impacts of the proposed WOTUS rule on state and local governments and stakeholders.

April 8th: Senator Sullivan authors an ep-ed in the Fairbanks Daily News Miner on WOTUS.

April 8th: Senator Sullivan, chairman of the EPW Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife, held a field hearing in Fairbanks, Alaska to examine the impacts of the proposed WOTUS rule on state and local governments and stakeholders.

April 30th: Senator Sullivan joined a bipartisan group of Senators, led by Sens. John Barrasso (R-WY), Joe Donnelly (D-ID), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Pat Roberts (R-KS), in introducing S. 1140, the Federal Water Quality Protection Act, legislation that would force the EPA to withdraw the rule and start over.

May 19th:  Senator Sullivan chaired an EPW Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife legislative hearing on S. 1140, the Federal Water Quality Protection Act, which would force the EPA to withdraw the rule and start over.

May 22nd: Senator Sullivan in addition to Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) sent a letter to EPA Administrator McCarthy to express concerns and demand answers regarding a recent New York Times article that reported that the EPA may have conducted an unprecedented, and possibly illegal lobbying and marketing effort on behalf of the controversial WOTUS rule.

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