Commissioner Adam H. Putnam’s Statement Regarding EPA’s Overly Broad “Waters of the United States” Regulations

From the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services:

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam today released the following statement regarding the Environmental Protection Agency’s pre-publication version of regulations expanding the definition of waters subject to the jurisdiction of federal government, or “waters of the United States” (WOTUS).

“Florida is a unique state, and the EPA’s one-size-fits-all, power grab to expand federal government’s authority robs Florida’s leaders of the ability to make the best decisions for our distinct water bodies. There is little clarity or relief for Florida in these regulations, and the expansion of federal jurisdiction stands to threaten the sound environmental programs we currently have in place today.”

Commissioner Putnam testified before Congress in February 2015 to voice his concerns regarding the EPA’s proposed regulations that expand federal government’s authority.