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Lobbyist to speak on proposed expansion of water regulations
Published 12:00 p.m., June 22, 2007
New regulations are in the works for state and local governments which may allow the federal government to regulate ditches as waterways in Otter Tail County and elsewhere under a new proposal to revise the 1972 Clean Water Act.
County officials foresee hassles from the revision and lobbyists are forming meetings around the country to raise awareness on what they call “radical proposals that will greatly expand government’s control over every Minnesotan’s way of life including private land and water.”
Don Parmeter, executive director of the American Property Coalition, will discuss the proposal that the APC says would give the government control of all waters at the meeting scheduled for 7 p.m., Wednesday, June 27, at the Otter Tail Power Community Room in Fergus Falls. The APC are lobbyists registered with the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board.
“If enacted, this bill will dramatically alter the extent to which the federal government will be able to control our lives and our property,” Parmeter said.
County officials and national organizations have concerns on the impact of the bill on local authority and budgets.
“If it were to pass, it would certainly further complicate our operations and add costs,” Otter Tail County Highway Engineer Rick West said.
The bill removes the word “navigable” from the definition of “waters of the U.S.,” in the current legislation, according to legal analysis provided by National Association of Counties (NACo) Associate Legislative Director Julie Ufner. The implication of removing “navigable” from the definition of “waters of the U.S.” is exemplified in gutters and ditches, for one example.
The passing of this bill could make waterways such as ditches subject to federal regulation, rather than being regulated at the local level, possibly causing delays in construction and alteration.
Delays associated with going through a federal process regarding drainage features involving ditches could be a problem in Otter Tail County given the level of rising water currently saturating the region; something that will be discussed at a meeting next week.
Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.), along with Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) and Vernon Ehlers (R-Mich.), introduced the bill, May 22. As of June 1, 157 House members had cosponsored the bill.
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