WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) released the following statement on today’s roundtable with South Carolina farmers, private property owners, businesses, South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers, Attorney General Alan Wilson, Congressman Joe Wilson, and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt on the negative impact of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) regulation.

“I appreciate South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers organizing today’s discussion with EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt to talk about the WOTUS regulation. We heard from South Carolina farmers, private property owners, forest industry personnel, power companies, and others about the overreach of this 2015 Obama regulation. 

“This morning, I heard countless firsthand stories of how this regulation is preventing South Carolinians from doing their jobs all the while not providing further protections for the environment.  The practical effect of WOTUS is a pond, ditch, or even a puddle in some areas of South Carolina is viewed as a navigable waterway under WOTUS.     

“I applaud Administrator Pruitt for coming to South Carolina to listen, learn and continue the dialogue. I know he is committed to restoring the proper balance between the federal government, states, and the private sector.  I look forward to working with him to replace this ill-conceived regulation with something that makes sense and better balances the needs of our environment with the needs of private property owners.” 

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