Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kansas) announced his opposition to the EPA's Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule that increases bureaucratic control over private land that includes virtually any waters, including many areas that only temporarily hold water.

"Today's WOTUS ruling is a detrimental government overreach into ponds and puddles a thousand miles from the D.C. swamp," said Rep. Estes. "Kansas farmers and ranchers are the best stewards of their land, but the final WOTUS rule hands over private property decisions to Washington bureaucrats. As a Kansan and former farm kid, my colleagues and I will continue pushing back against this burdensome administration that chooses to govern with a heavy hand and disregards the common sense conservation by the men and women who actually work the land."

The EPA's WOTUS rule will impact farm ditches, agricultural ponds and isolated wetlands found in and near farms and ranches across the country. Rep. Estes has been a consistent voice against the overreaching WOTUS rule and outlined how its implementation will cause harm to Kansas ag producers.