The House Water and Power Subcommittee conducted a hearing this week on pending water rules proposed by EPA and the Forest Service. The invited Administration witnesses from the Bureau of Reclamation and the Forest Service declined to appear, leaving the hearing to a panel of witnesses consisting of the National Water Resources Association, a power cooperative, a state Farm Bureau, a state water engineer, and a brewer. Much of the discussion centered on the proposed rule to define waters of the U.S.; however, a recently published directive regarding the ownership and use of water rights associated with ski areas also drew criticism from western state representatives. Most members of the subcommittee raised concerns about the content and potential impact of the waters of the U.S. rule, and most of the panelists cited specific examples of additional costs, delays, and the potential for citizen suits.
