Thune releases statement on Trump Administration proposal to withdraw WOTUS rule

U.S. Sen. John Thune said Tuesday that he applauded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers for initiating a formal process to withdraw the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule.

He said the EPA and the Corps now begin a replacement rulemaking process that will gather input and re-evaluate the definition of WOTUS.

“WOTUS was just another example of Obama-era government overreach, which placed unnecessary burdens on South Dakota’s farmers and ranchers,” Thune said. “I’m glad EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and his agency listened to the concerns of rural America and are taking steps to repeal this burdensome rule.”

Thune said WOTUS was developed by the Obama Administration’s EPA and the Corps and expanded the EPA’s federal jurisdiction and scope of waterbodies that are subject to Clean Water Act requirements.

He said it also targeted the Prairie Pothole Region, which includes nearly all of eastern South Dakota, with additional restrictions.