Federal Judge Blocks New Obama Administration Water Rule

Congressman Exposes EPA Plan to take over 
Waterways and Private Property

EPA says injunction only applies in 13 states that had sued to challenge the new regulation

A federal judge on Thursday blocked an Obama administration rule, set to go into effect Friday, that seeks to put more small bodies of water and wetlands under federal protection to ensure clean drinking supplies.

Thirteen states, including South Dakota, challenged in 

court new EPA regulation of wetlands and streams. 

Above, a creek in Sioux Falls, S.D. Photo: AP

U.S. District Judge Ralph Erickson of North Dakota issued a preliminary injunction against implementation of the regulation, saying a group of 13 states was likely to succeed in their lawsuit challenging the Environmental Protection Agency regulation as unlawful.

The judge faulted several facets of the rule, both on its substance and the procedure the EPA followed in writing it. He said the rule suffered from a “fatal defect” of allowing regulation of ditches and streams that were remote from navigable waters where federal authorities have jurisdiction.

“It appears likely that the EPA has violated its Congressional grant of authority in its promulgation of the rule,” Judge Erickson wrote in an 18-page order.

Read the rest of the story HERE.

If you like what you see, please "Like" us on Facebook either here or here. Please follow us on Twitter here.