Pit & Quarry, November 2017
The latest on WOTUS permitting EPA administrator Interior secretary provide updates during an industry visit T he administrator of the U S Environmental Protection Agency EPA and the secretary of the U S Department of the Interior were among the government officials to appear at the National Stone Sand Gravel Associations NSSGA inaugural Legislative Policy Forum in Washington D C Pruitt Zinke EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke addressed a group of aggregate producers manufacturers and allied trade representatives during an opening general session According to NSSGA nearly 300 people attended this inaugural event that involved attendees storming Capitol Hill Pruitt who was confirmed to lead the EPA back in February of this year discussed several matters related to the aggregate industry including the state of the Waters of the United States WOTUS rule Were withdrawing that rule Pruitt says The process began in earnest on Feb 28 The president signed an executive order directing our agency to consider withdrawal of WOTUS According to Pruitt puddles will no longer qualify as water bodies Whats coming next is a replacement definition that matches the intent of the Clean Water Act using objective criteria so we know where federal jurisdiction begins and ends Pruitt says In addition to addressing WOTUS Pruitt offered his perspective on the role of regulation Regulations are intended to make things greater he says Those who are regulated across the country need to know whats expected of them Regulatory reform is essential to ensure American businesses like aggregate operations can function in a business environment thats fair and reasonable Pruitt adds Regulatory reform does not mean a dearth of regulations he says It means we are going to go about things consistently and regulations are intended to make things regular The greatest impediment to economic growth has been regulatory uncertainty If agencies change the rules of engagement over and over that affects the economy and businesses substantially Also Pruitt discussed his desire to shore up the permitting process for American businesses When it takes 10 years 15 years to get a permit thats simply being a hindrance to the process Pruitt says We need to be up and down within a certain timeframe Zinke whose address fol lowed Pruitts at the NSSGA Legislative Policy Forum also discussed the arduous permitting process You should know within six months if you should build or not Zinke says And businesses should know within that timeframe without having to make extraordinary investments he adds The president has given every Cabinet member with a piece in this permitting clear direction Zinke says Kevin Yanik www kpijci com pitandquarry com November 2017 PIT QUARRY 53
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