Senator Boxer, who chairs the Committee on Environment and Public Works, is a cosponsor of Senate bill, S787, entitled, Clean Water Restoration Act.
S787 seeks to
(1) to reaffirm the original intent of Congress in enacting the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the waters of the United States;
(2) to clearly define the waters of the United States that are subject to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ; and
(3) to provide protection to the waters of the United States to the maximum extent of the legislative authority of Congress under the Constitution.
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This is all well, and good, unless you understand that in the original, 1972 bill, the original definition of ‘waters of the United States’ included the term ‘navigable waters’. That term has been removed, and is replaced by the word ‘waters’. This is a much broader interpretation than in 1972.
The new definition:
(25) WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES- The term `waters of the United States’ means all waters subject to the ebb and flow of the tide, the territorial seas, and all interstate and intrastate waters and their tributaries, including lakes, rivers, streams (including intermittent streams), mudflats, sandflats, wetlands, sloughs, prairie potholes, wet meadows, playa lakes, natural ponds, and all impoundments of the foregoing, to the fullest extent that these waters, or activities affecting these waters, are subject to the legislative power of Congress under the Constitution.’.
This seems to cover just about any water that can be envisioned, from puddles, to ponds, regardless of private ownership rights.
I have a swimming pool in my backyard, so I suppose it will fall under Federal government control. The quality of my pool water will have to meet Federal clean water standards, and I suppose inspectors will come around and test the water, from time to time, and I’ll be heavily fined if it doesn’t measure-up. I might even be arrested, and/or taken to court if I don’t balance the chemicals in my pool. I’m glad that it is not part of current law, because my pool is a little foggy, and green, at the moment.
In years past, this would be a facetious post; it would be funny… but, now, knowing the proclivities of our liberal California Senators, I don’t think it is funny, or far-fetched to image government inspectors intruding onto my private property to inspect my pool.
I read a more comprehensive article about S787; click here to read a great analysis of the S787.
Sigh….. and Senator Boxer is co-sponsor of this bill; no wonder that California is in such a mess.
And that is just my opinion.
Spencer Holly, AngryCalifornian
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More:
Clean Water Restoration Act Opposed by Farm Bureau
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AAAE Opposes Water Discharge Bill
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Next on the government’s agenda: regulating rainwater
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Clean Water Restoration Act Gains Detractors
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Inhofe Leads the Opposition
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