Mountain State Times

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito has expressed her approval of the Trump administration's recent update to the definition of "waters of the United States" (WOTUS). The update, announced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), aims to refine WOTUS without excessive overreach, aligning with legal standards and providing clarity for landowners, farmers, businesses, and local governments.

"I commend EPA and USACE for taking this first step to carefully provide the clarity landowners, farmers, businesses, and local governments have been asking for by refining the scope of WOTUS without excessive overreach," said Senator Capito. She emphasized that this action would ensure only wetlands with a true connection to jurisdictional waters fall under federal oversight while eliminating ambiguity.

Senator Capito highlighted that delivering a clear framework would bring predictability to those relying on water regulations. "It also reaffirms the importance of public input, with dedicated stakeholder engagement opportunities to ensure a balanced approach moving forward," she added.

The senator has been actively involved in actions related to WOTUS. In October 2023, she participated in a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing following the Supreme Court's decision against President Biden’s WOTUS rule. In March 2023, she supported a Congressional Review Act resolution disapproving Biden’s rule.

Senator Capito's efforts include leading an amicus curiae brief supporting petitioners in Sackett v. EPA and introducing legislation to codify previous definitions under the Clean Water Act. Her actions reflect ongoing advocacy for regulatory clarity and stakeholder engagement in environmental policy.