NEBRASKA, January 23 - Media Contacts:  

Taylor Gage, 402-471-1970

Justin Pinkerman, 402-471-1967

Media Release:

Gov. Ricketts Applauds President Trump’s WOTUS Rollback

LINCOLN – Today, Governor Pete Ricketts praised President Donald J. Trump and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a new rule that rolls back President Barack Obama’s 2015 rule pertaining to the Clean Water Act.  The 2015 rule had stretched the bounds of the EPA’s authority beyond its constitutional scope by expansively defining “Waters of the United States ” (WOTUS).

“Thank you to President Trump and his team for successfully rolling back President Obama’s expansive Waters of the U.S. rule,” said Gov. Ricketts.  “This new rule builds on the great work the Trump Administration has been doing to cut red tape.  The rule respects states’ rights, and protects our farmers and ranchers from federal government overreach.”  

The 2015 rule had taken authority away from states, transferring it to the federal government.  The EPA’s new rule acknowledges that states have primary responsibility to regulate their own water resources.