House strikes again at EPA, Clean Water Act

WASHINGTON, June 23 (UPI) -- A bill advanced by a U.S. House of Representatives committee is an assault on wetlands and undermines the Clean Water Act, an advocacy group claims.

A House committee approved a bill that would give states regulatory authority over water, wetlands and mining operations on mountaintops, stripping the authority from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Republican lawmakers said the measure, H.R. 2018, is needed to overcome hurdles preventing economic growth and job recovery.

Adam Kolton, executive director of the National Wildlife Federation's National Advocacy Center, said the measure is one of the most egregious attacks on environmental regulations.

"By putting big polluters' interests first, this bill is a threat to every American who counts on clean water from the tap, healthy rivers and streams to swim and fish in, and enjoys the majesty of our nation's great waters," he said in a statement.

The National Wildlife Federation called on members of Congress to act against the measure as it heads to the full House.

House leaders in March said the EPA is made up of "unelected bureaucrats" who are putting up "roadblocks to domestic energy production."