"WASHINGTON — In a year the Republican-controlled Congress is expected to take a significant whack at President Barack Obama’s environmental agenda, GOP lawmakers on Wednesday told top environmental officials they should scrap what was once a fairly obscure proposal to define what is and isn’t considered a body of water by federal law.

In an unusual joint hearing involving the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the Republican majority that now controls both houses of Congress showed it is intent on trying to derail the president’s environmental agenda in his last two years in office.

Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Pa., ran the hearing, tightly holding senators and representatives to their time limits – and noting that a potential of 79 lawmakers could be on hand to ask questions."

Chris Adams reports for the Fresno Bee Washington Bureau February 4, 2015. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"EPA Chief Promises Clarifications in Waters of The U.S. Rule" (Agri-Pulse) [3]

"Virginia Local Officials Voice Support For EPA Proposed Clean Water Rule." (Augusta Free Press) [4]

"EPA Administrator Insists Water Rule Isn’t a Power Grab" (Alaska Public Media) [5]

"GOP Pledges To Fight EPA Water Rule" (The Hill) [6]

"Lawmakers Clash Over ‘Mythical’ EPA Water Rule" (The Hill) [7]

"Rep. Bob Gibbs And Other Republicans Criticize Environmental Protection Agency Water Proposal" (Cleveland Plain Dealer) [8]

"Illinois Local Officials Voice Support For EPA’s Proposed Clean Water Rule" (Rock River Times/Environment Illinois Release) [9]