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EPA land grab? Agency claims authority over more streams, wetlands
Fox News ^ | March 25, 2014

Posted on 03/25/2014 3:37:58 PM PDT by jazusamo

In what critics are describing as a government land grab, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed a change Tuesday to the Clean Water Act that would give it regulatory authority over temporary wetlands and waterways.

The proposal immediately sparked concerns that the regulatory power could extend into seasonal ponds, streams and ditches, including those on private property.

"The ... rule may be one of the most significant private property grabs in U.S. history," said Louisiana Sen. David Vitter, the top Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

The EPA proposal would apply pollution regulations to the country's so-called "intermittent and ephemeral streams and wetlands" -- which are created during wet seasons, or simply after it rains, but are temporary.

At issue is whether the smaller streams and wetlands are indeed part of the "waters of the United States."

The Supreme Court ruled on the issue in 2001 and 2006. The second ruling restricted the federal government's authority by stating such waters must be "relatively" permanent or continuously flowing and sizeable, like "oceans, rivers, streams and lakes."

In defending the proposed change, the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers said Tuesday that determining Clean Water Act protection for streams and wetlands became "confusing and complex" following the high court decisions.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: abuseofpower; agenda21; domesticenemy; epa; epaoutofcontrol; landgrab; property; propertyrights; rights; seasonalcreeks; streams; tyrranny; un21; wetlands
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To: jazusamo

I guess that means that the EPA considers the big puddle in my back yard from the snow melting is a “navigable waterway.” Talk about power hunger idiocy.


21 posted on 03/25/2014 4:16:47 PM PDT by GreyFriar ( Spearhead - 3rd Armored Division 75-78 & 83-87)
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To: jazusamo

Those fortunate enough to have a seasonal or not stream or pond are generally involved in caring for the land anyway as part of their livelihoods. I doubt they need EPA nannies flicking switches at their ankles.


22 posted on 03/25/2014 4:18:20 PM PDT by blueplum
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To: jazusamo

The commies see the writing on the November wall and are setting their claws in while they can.

Defund, defund, defund. Let these rats lose THEIR houses, for once.


23 posted on 03/25/2014 4:19:26 PM PDT by txhurl
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To: Nachum

Oh, “temporary” wetlands. Everywhere except Death Valley.


24 posted on 03/25/2014 4:20:07 PM PDT by little jeremiah (Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point. CSLewis)
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To: jazusamo

Just another incremental step toward implementation of Agenda 21.


25 posted on 03/25/2014 4:22:12 PM PDT by Bernard Marx
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To: i_robot73

“... We’ve had (R) control of D.C., HOW many times since 1980 ...”
-
Only from 2003 - 2007 but we never had 60 votes in the senate.


26 posted on 03/25/2014 4:23:18 PM PDT by Repeal The 17th (We have met the enemy and he is us.)
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To: GreyFriar

Yes, the power hungry idiots basically are trying their best to do away with the “navigable waterway” thing entirely and go around the former SCOTUS ruling.


27 posted on 03/25/2014 4:25:02 PM PDT by jazusamo ([Obama] A Truly Great Phony -- Thomas Sowell http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3058949/posts)
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To: blueplum

Exactly, if for nothing else just to ensure that seasonal water doesn’t do damage to their property, I’ve been their and done that.


28 posted on 03/25/2014 4:28:39 PM PDT by jazusamo ([Obama] A Truly Great Phony -- Thomas Sowell http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3058949/posts)
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To: jazusamo

Defund the EPA NOW!


29 posted on 03/25/2014 4:49:34 PM PDT by FreeAtlanta (Liberty or Big Government - you can't have both.)
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To: jazusamo

Here in Michigan you can’t walk 100 yards without stepping in some kind of water.


30 posted on 03/25/2014 4:49:37 PM PDT by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: beethovenfan

Technically, they might try to claim our lands based on below ground water tables. Sorry, for the scary idea.


31 posted on 03/25/2014 4:52:02 PM PDT by FreeAtlanta (Liberty or Big Government - you can't have both.)
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To: DoughtyOne

And hang the EPA perps on the Capitol Steps.


32 posted on 03/25/2014 4:56:57 PM PDT by GGpaX4DumpedTea (I am a Tea Party descendant...steeped in the Constitutional Republic given to us by the Founders)
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To: cripplecreek

Up your way and the states abutting you this could turn into a huge nightmare of abuse by the EPA.


33 posted on 03/25/2014 4:59:22 PM PDT by jazusamo ([Obama] A Truly Great Phony -- Thomas Sowell http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3058949/posts)
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To: jazusamo
EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers said Tuesday that determining Clean Water Act protection for streams and wetlands became "confusing and complex" so just give us control over everything to clear things up.
34 posted on 03/25/2014 5:10:54 PM PDT by Colorado Doug (Now I know how the Indians felt to be sold out for a few beads and trinkets)
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To: jazusamo
Yes, and this “seasonal” thing will affect most everyone in this nation living in rural areas.

Not just rural. The Corps Of Engineers have already tried to enforce "wetlands" laws on every dry patch of earth that someone spit on once. Every curb and gutter, every lawn or vacant lot. Everywhere, really would come under their expanded jurisdiction.

35 posted on 03/25/2014 5:15:27 PM PDT by Colorado Doug (Now I know how the Indians felt to be sold out for a few beads and trinkets)
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To: jazusamo
Michigan, Florida, and Louisiana would probably take the biggest hits. People often forget that Michigan isn't actually mitten shaped. The boundaries include a lot of water. We actually rank at the top for total percentage of the state being water.

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36 posted on 03/25/2014 5:30:12 PM PDT by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: jazusamo

to further agenda 21 and force people off their land.

we gotta end this sh1t now.


37 posted on 03/25/2014 5:39:08 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: jazusamo

and unless we run and elect people who do more than lip service about shutting down rogue alphabet agencies, they will just let them continue on.


38 posted on 03/25/2014 5:40:28 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: jazusamo

that’s the entire point. and if you complain any puddles on your property...


39 posted on 03/25/2014 5:41:41 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: JSDude1; DoughtyOne
Only one solution: Shut down (or radically diminish) the EPA

At one point, I was very interested in a proposal to get rid of the EPA, but it's not that simple.

Between 1955 and 1972, Congress passed a whole slew of unconstitutional laws like the Clean Air Act, the Clean Waters Restoration Act, the Air Pollution Control Act, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, and many others.

these laws impose on the Executive Branch the duty to analyze conditions and to write and enforce regulations to carry out extremely vague mandates.

Nixon created the EPA by Executive order to simplify the tasks, which were then divided among dozens of existing agencies.

The EPA, as such, has never been authorized by Congress. If a President revoked Executive Order 15623, and the EPA ceased to exist, all the laws it is charged with enforcing would still exist, and there would spring up dozens of replacement agencies.

To remove this monster, it is necessary to start repealing the underlying statutes, no small task.

40 posted on 03/25/2014 5:42:45 PM PDT by Jim Noble (When strong, avoid them. Attack their weaknesses. Emerge to their surprise. H)
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