Agenda 21 and Sustainable Development

Kirkpatrick Opposes Expansion of Water Regulation - Criticizes Excessive Government Interference

The Clean Water Restoration Act (S.787), is the "biggest bureaucratic power grab in a generation." - U.S. Senator James Inhofe (R-OK)

July 28, 2009

The White Mountain Independent Online - Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick is continuing her "Defending Arizona Values" campaign by fighting against big government, as she announced her opposition to a bill greatly expanding federal water regulation.

The bill, S. 787, would remove a critical limitation on the reach of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act), allowing Washington to infringe on property use by farmers, ranchers and small businesses across the district, Kirkpatrick's office said in a press release.

The bill eliminates the Clean Water Act's critical requirement that regulated waterways be "navigable,"which would give the government the ability to police everything from creeks that run through farms to standing water in ditches, the press release said, adding that federal officials and courts would be able to hold up activities that do not affect any actual rivers or lakes.
Kirkpatrick feels this bill's goals can be accomplished by enforcing laws already on the books.

"Expanding the reach of the federal government would be a move in the wrong direction, and we do not want or need this sort of interference in our daily lives." Kirkpatrick said. "This sort of legislation is exactly why folks in Greater Arizona feel Washington is out of touch with our values. We understand the need to protect our water supply better than any Washington bureaucrat, and we know how to take care of ourselves. I am working hard to make sure that more of our leaders at the national level understand that."

"The Arizona Farm Bureau thanks Rep. Kirkpatrick for opposing this legislation. We all support clean water, but this legislation puts all water under federal control," said Kevin Rogers, president of the Arizona Farm Bureau. "It could require me to get a federal permit to clean out an irrigation ditch on my farm. It goes too far."

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved the Clean Water Restoration Act (S. 787) by a vote of 12-7 on June 18, 2009. This bill would place virtually all the waters of the United States under federal control. Among other things, S. 787 would amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (enacted in 1972) by striking the term “navigable waters” from the bill and replacing it with “waters of the United States." What does that mean to you? This bill would federalize virtually every water deposit (including private wells) in the nation and therefore threaten both private property rights and states' rights. - Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association, June 25, 2009

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