FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS ADVISORY
June 27, 2017
Steve Marshall
For More Information, contact:
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Alabama Attorney General
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
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ATTORNEY GENERAL STEVE MARSHALL JOINS FELLOW ATTORNEYS
GENERAL IN APPLAUDING EPA’S DECISION TO REPEAL DETRIMENTAL
“WATERS OF US RULE”
(MONTGOMERY) – Attorney General Steve Marshall joined 21 other state attorneys
general in welcoming the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s efforts to repeal the
controversial “Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule.” EPA Administrator Scott
Pruitt signed a notice Tuesday to withdraw the unpopular rule which began under
President Obama.
In a joint statement, Marshall, along with attorneys general from the states of West
Virginia, Wisconsin, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan,
Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota,
Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wyoming and the Commonwealth of Kentucky, praised the
EPA for taking steps to withdraw the unlawful WOTUS Rule.
“We fully support the proposed rule signed by EPA Administrator Pruitt today as a
significant step in the direction of withdrawing the unlawful WOTUS Rule.
“The WOTUS Rule asserts sweeping federal authority over usually dry channels,
roadside ditches, and isolated streams. The Rule also asserts federal authority over land
covered by water only once every one hundred years.
“The Rule’s broad assertion of authority unlawfully impinges on the States’ traditional
role as the primary regulators of land and water resources. The WOTUS Rule is
unlawful under the Clean Water Act, U.S. Supreme Court precedent, and the U.S.
Constitution.
“Our States won a nationwide stay blocking enforcement of the rule and allowing the
new administration time to work on withdrawing the Rule.
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“We look forward to EPA’s final action withdrawing the WOTUS Rule and providing
relief for our States and their citizens.”
Alabama was among 11 states that filed suit against the EPA over the WOTUS Rule in
June of 2015. In October of 2015, the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted a
nationwide stay of the Rule.
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