For Immediate Release
Jack Mozloom, 202-406-4450 or 609-462-5610 (cell)
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Follow Jack on Twitter @JackMozNFIB
NFIB Urges EPA Administrator to Listen to
Small Businesses during her Waters Regulation Road Show
EPA’s McCarthy is
traveling this week to promote the controversial expansion of the Clean Water
Act. Instead of preaching to the choir she should meet with business owners, says the National Federation of Independent Business
(NFIB)
Washington, DC (April 7, 2015) – EPA Administrator
Gina McCarthy is hitting the road this week to promote her agency’s
takeover of local water regulation. But instead of meeting with
environmental activists, friendly politicians and others who won’t have to deal
with the massive new costs, bureaucratic hassles and big legal risks, she
should take a few minutes to explain to small business owners why they
shouldn’t be deeply worried.
“If your property includes a pond, a creek or even a dry
stream bed that gets wet once a year, you’re about to come under the same rules
that would govern a casino developer on the Gulf Coast,” said NFIB President
and CEO Dan Danner.
The EPA yesterday sent to the White House for final approval
an expansion of the Clean Waters Act, intended by Congress 40 years ago as a
way to protect navigable waterways. Under the new version, EPA regulators
would have jurisdiction over just about any formation of water no matter how
small, temporary or incidental. According to the federal EPA and the
Army Corps of Engineers, the regulation will cost property owners who want
to make improvements, including small businesses and farmers, more than $100
million.
“All 50 states have agencies that enforce their own
regulations and they generally try to balance environmental protection with
economic development. Under the new rule local business owners will have
to seek permission from the federal government, pay thousands for the permits
and potentially be denied by bureaucrats in Washington the right to improve
their properties,” explained Danner. “And if they build anything on their
property without EPA approval they face tens of thousands of dollars in fines
and even bigger litigation costs.”
The federal Small Business Administration’s Office of
Advocacy called publicly last year on the EPA to withdraw the rule.
It pointed out that the agency failed to perform an economic analysis as
required by law. The EPA brushed aside that recommendation, however,
arguing that there won’t be any new costs because the new rule merely expands
an existing regulation.
“That fails the straight-face test,” said Danner. “Many
thousands of local businesses and private property owners will now come under
EPA regulation. Obviously that means new costs.”
Administrator McCarthy is expected to visit Dallas, Texas
and St. Paul, Minnesota to sell the new regulation. Local environmentalists,
trial attorneys and political supporters don’t need to be convinced, however,
and they don’t have much to lose either.
“Local businesses and their employees are the ones who’ll
pay the price,” said Danner. “I hope the Administrator plans to visit
Main Street businesses and address their concerns. Otherwise this is just
another public relations campaign. People whose whole lives are invested
in their businesses will be affected by this rule and they deserve a serious
conversation.”
For more information about NFIB please visit www.nfib.com.
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