Hoeven: ‘Burdensome’ EPA regulations harm economy

Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) said his top priority in the next Congress will be to stop Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations.

“Overly burdensome regulations are hampering our economy and hurting our businesses,” Hoeven said Monday.

{mosads}Hoeven used the EPA’s proposed Waters of the U.S. rule as an example, saying it would “heavily burden” farms and ranches because the EPA could regulate any pool of water within the United States.

“This rule would expand the EPA’s regulatory authority to everything from small wetlands to ditches and it needs to be stopped,” Hoeven said. “We’re working to do it now and will make it a high priority in the new Congress.”

Last week, Republicans won enough Senate seats to take control of the upper chamber in 2015. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is expected to become majority leader and he has vowed to bring up legislation aimed at curbing EPA regulations on waters, oil drilling and coal emissions.

The EPA has said it wouldn’t regulate farms and ranches under the Waters of the U.S. rule.