The Federalization of All Waters of the U.S.

Oppose Federalization of All Waters of the U.S.
"[This water bill is the] biggest bureaucratic power grab in a generation."
--Senator James Inhofe

UPDATED June 25, 2009: The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved the Clean Water Restoration Act (S. 787) by a vote of 12-7 on June 18, 2009. As described below, this bill would place virtually all the waters of the United States under federal control. U.S. Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) is a ranking member of the Environment and Public Works Committee and has recently issued a warning against the passage of S. 787. The legislation is the "biggest bureaucratic power grab in a generation," Inhofe said. (To view Sen. Inhofe's remarks, click here.)

The committee vote was a strictly partisan vote as Democrats voted FOR the bill while Republicans voted AGAINST it. The list of names may be found by clicking here.

Since Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) moved to put a hold on S. 787, it cannot be voted on until at least 60 Senators vote to remove the hold. This adds an additional step to the process so the bill can't be rushed through. Hopefully this will force more Senators to read the bill and gain even more opposition to its passage.

Please read the comments below and then send an e-mail to your Senators requesting that they reject this bill.

Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) introduced S. 787 on April 2, 2009. The bill, known as the Clean Water Restoration Act, would redefine the government’s control over water. The bill is currently in the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and already carries 24 cosponsors.

Among other things, S. 787 would amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (enacted in 1972) by striking the term “navigable waters” from the bill and replacing it with “waters of the United States.”

What does that mean to you? Simply put, it would federalize basically every water deposit within the United States and place restrictions on landowners.

The John Birch Society opposes this bill because it would federalize virtually every water deposit in the nation and therefore threaten both private property rights and states' rights.

For the complete text of S. 787, click here. http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:S.787:

For more information on S. 787, click here. http://mustangdaily.net/feds-seek-to-control-even-your-kitchen-sink...
Click the link below to log in and send your message:
http://www.votervoice.net/link/target/jbs34793814.aspx

As a personal interest, in March we were given Two 2000 Gallon plastic storage tanks. We were going to place them underground (under our overflow dry pond) to capture the rain runoff (this is Oregon, rains allot) to utilize in the lawns and bedding plants. We found a solar powered pump and grid. When we asked for permits we ran into the Federal Government which explained the rain belonged to them, and only could be used naturally in storm drains, if we captured it we're going to have "heavy fines". So much for trying to save on the use of city water.

David