Senators comment on Supreme Court ruling

U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) recently released statements applauding the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency Case.

The Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of the petitioners, which narrowed the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the federal government in regulating “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act.

“This ruling is a major win for farmers and ranchers in Wyoming, as it provides regulatory clarity regarding what is and what is not covered under the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers’ definition of a WOTUS,” a press release from Sen. Lummis’s office explained.

“The Biden administration clearly overreached its authority in defining which waters received federal protections, and I’m glad the Supreme Court agreed with what Republicans have been saying all along. After decades of uncertainty, we finally have a majority opinion from the Supreme Court that will lay this issue to rest once and for all,” said Sen. Lummis. “This court ruling is a win for the hardworking farmers, ranchers, businesses and landowners of Wyoming who desperately needed regulatory clarity when it comes to WOTUS. An irrigation ditch is not navigable water, and the Supreme Court agrees with that statement.”

“The Supreme Court ruled once again to rein in an out-of-control Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),” Sen. Barrasso said. “The Court confirmed what we’ve been saying for years. EPA’s overreach in defining the ‘waters of the United States’ (WOTUS) to include any piece of land it wants to regulate is unconstitutional. This ruling is a big win in our fight to stop federal overreach and protect Americans’ private property rights.”