Charleston, SC – U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) released the statement below following the release of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final “waters of the United States,” or WOTUS, rule today.

“After reviewing today’s final rule on the ‘waters of the United States,’ I am extremely disappointed that President Obama and the EPA have once again chosen to overregulate and ignore the concerns of communities and families across the nation,” Senator Scott said. “Multiple local organizations and small business groups, including many in South Carolina, asked for the rule to be withdrawn, only to be ignored by the EPA. By attempting to broaden their powers to regulate private ponds, creeks, ditches and numerous state and local waters, the EPA will cause significant economic harm tofamily farms, small businesses and countless counties and localities nationwide. I will continue working with my colleagues in the Senate to stop this EPA land grab and to ensure this Administration follows the true intent of the Clean Water Act.”

Senator Scott signed onto a letter late last year expressing concerns over the then-proposed WOTUS rule, and is a cosponsor of the Federal Water Protection Act (S. 1140), which would protect state and local governments and land owners from WOTUS’ massive federal overreach.