U.S. Chamber’s Harbert Praises New Water Rule

Press Release
December 11, 2018

WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Chamber of Commerce Global Energy Institute President & CEO Karen Harbert issued the following statement regarding a new proposed rule revising the definition of “Waters of the United States (WOTUS)”:

“This new rule is good news for businesses, farmers, and localities because it strikes a better balance between economic growth and environmental progress than the rule it replaces.

“The previous rule gave EPA and the Army Corps unprecedented authority to permit and enforce areas well beyond what Congress intended. This revised rule will end a great deal of uncertainty that came in the wake of the former rule, and it will provide much-needed clarity.”

The Chamber has played a leading role in advocating for a reasonable standard to measure federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act both in the regulatory process and the courts.