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Improving Your Private Property? Check with the EPA

August 25, 2015 - 10:30am
 
There’s a surprise coming to Florida property owners at the end of August, one wrapped in the federal government’s signature red tape.

 
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers have positioned themselves to regulate practically every square inch of our state.  
 
How? They have redefined the extent of EPA jurisdiction to regulate water and land through a newly written “Waters of the U.S.” rule under the Clean Water Act (CWA). That should come as a concern for those who own property in the Sunshine State because the rule will affect private property rights, states’ rights and our economy.
 
First, by broadening the definition of “navigable waters,” the EPA expands its right to regulate virtually all waters, even dry land, in the United States. 
 
Beyond their normal or traditional jurisdictions, the Corps and EPA claim virtually all tributaries are now subject to the Clean Water Act — no matter how remote or inconsequential. It expands waters and lands “adjacent” to waters covered by the CWA and “neighboring” lands such as 100-year flood plains and lands within 1,500 feet of the covered waters.
 
Own property near a stream or a ditch? If either contribute water to a tributary during rainfall or are located within a half mile of a 100-year floodplain, you may need EPA approval to improve your home or change your landscaping. That means layers of federal bureaucracy and expense will be added to what could have been a simple home improvement project. 
 
Next, the new definition usurps states’ rights to maintain control over local land and water use. There have been 37 lawsuits to challenge the law filed by property owners and groups such as the Pacific Legal Foundation. The James Madison Institute just released a report on jamesmadison.org to encourage Florida property owners to pay close attention to the rule so they don’t violate it. As the report explains, that’s difficult because the rule is vague and allows broad interpretation. Much like the Affordable Care Act, no one can fully predict its effect until it’s implemented at the end of this month.
 
The agencies claim authority based on the 1977 Clean Water Act. In doing so, though, they ignore Congress’s intent in passing the CWA as expressed in the law itself “to recognize, preserve, and protect the primary responsibilities and rights of the states” to control local land and water use.” Originally, the EPA had limited regulatory authority over “navigable waters” and waters with a “significant nexus” to navigable waters. 
 
Now, implementing this rule puts virtually all waters and much of the land in Florida under the control of the Corps and the EPA, nullifying the constitutional limits on federal authority. The EPA and Corps have a history of abusing their power by attempting to expand their authority. On several occasions, the U.S. Supreme Court has admonished them for overreaching. For example, see Rapanos v. United States.
 
The CWA was not intended as a general mandate to regulate all waters. Congress does not have that power. It resides with the states. Those with land in Florida must be vigilant in monitoring how this rule affects their property and should inform The James Madison Institute of any negative effects. Floridians must understand the nature of this power grab. 
 
According to the U.S. Supreme Court, sudden and expansive interpretations of long-standing laws are unreasonable and should be met with skepticism. The “Waters of the U.S.” rule certainly fits that bill and this expansion of federal power may be unrivaled in American federal regulatory history.
 
Dan Peterson is director of The James Madison Institute's Center for Property Rights based in Orlando, Fla.
 

 

 

Comments

A friend owned a 4 acre lot with a single house near Groveland. She had a dispute with a neighbor over right away. She then was leveling some ground with a bulldozer in the "back lot". The neighbor reported her to the EPA as modifying local a "local wetland", and the EPA came out and made her stop under threats of big fines. She sold the land and moved. There never was any type of warning that her land was subject to EPA actions, and she hade been paying County property taxes on full value of the four acres. So, several things are wrong with the EPA. They don't warn people their land is subject to EPA actions which should also be reported to the local County assessor so he reduces the taxable value of the land. Taxpayers need to sue for the County back property taxes if EPA actions reduce the value of their land and were not disclosed when they bought the land.

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TTyranny - plain and simple! What other definition better applies to the exercise of arbitrary power and unrestrained abuse? For any agency of the government to assume excess rule making authority which carries the weight of law, attempt to execute, enforce and stand as judicator of those same rules; all within the same single agency and/or under the single executive branch, is the absolute height of injustice and blatantly contrary to the construct laid down by the framers of our constitutional republic. The time to dissolve this agency and reign in the executive branch, is upon us. Likewise it upon “we the people” to exercise vigilance within the legislative branch to do their job - halt tyranny or we will. Stand UP, Suit UP and Show UP folks.

The EPA has no legal authority to do this. The governor and lawmakers of Florida need to fight this overreach fiercely. I just sent the governor a letter to fight the so-called Clean Power Plan of this sordid EPA. In my opinion, the Obama administration is out to cripple Florida for turning down the stupid Medicaid Expansion.

The Army Corps of Engineers is the most destructive and corrupt federal agency we have if you don't count Congress. The fact that they are in bed with the EPA is telling since neither gives a hoot about the environment. If you remember Katrina, also remember that it was the Corps that built the levees. That collapsed. And you wonder why Trump is surging?

Holy cats! I live on a 17 acre retention pond, obviously bigger than a ditch. Nevertheless, the EPA must be stopped. It is making up it's own laws and regulations. That is the job of Congress!!

I would hope that our Congress is going to push back, even if it has to go to the Supreme Court. These rulings just show how much this country has become a dictatorship since Obama took office and put his czars in charge...forget the rule of law or the fact that Congress is supposed to make laws and enforce them (though they don't). This President has shown his true colors since day 1.

The "James Madison Institute" is wrong on the law, again. Time to prepare for reality.

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