Topic: The EPA at it again...

[BMG]

LINK

Lawmakers are working to block an unprecedented power grab by the Environmental Protection Agency to use the Clean Water Act (CWA) and control land alongside ditches, gullies and other ephemeral spots by claiming the sources are part of navigable waterways.

These temporary water sources are often created by rain or snow melt, and would make it harder for private property owners to build in their own backyards, grow crops, raise livestock and conduct other activities on their own land, lawmakers say.

So if you happen to have say, five acres of property and there are drainage ditches alongside roads on 3 or all 4 sides of your property; drainage ditches that only contain water for a couple weeks each year during spring thaw, the EPA could conceivably deem that those are 'navigable waterways' and force you to never build on that property, under threat from government guns. I know, the EPA already does similar stuff now - but that is mostly comprised of properties that are all or mostly wetlands. This would necessarily encompass pretty much every single piece of private property in the country because it isn't limited to small parcels like my example. It extends to large farms too, for example.

[charlesoakwood]

Isn't Romney going to eliminate the EPA?

[warpmine]

Isn't Romney going to eliminate the EPA?

Only in our dreams. I'd like to move the EPA to dream status machinegun

[Predator Don]

LINK

Lawmakers are working to block an unprecedented power grab by the Environmental Protection Agency to use the Clean Water Act (CWA) and control land alongside ditches, gullies and other ephemeral spots by claiming the sources are part of navigable waterways.

These temporary water sources are often created by rain or snow melt, and would make it harder for private property owners to build in their own backyards, grow crops, raise livestock and conduct other activities on their own land, lawmakers say.

So if you happen to have say, five acres of property and there are drainage ditches alongside roads on 3 or all 4 sides of your property; drainage ditches that only contain water for a couple weeks each year during spring thaw, the EPA could conceivably deem that those are 'navigable waterways' and force you to never build on that property, under threat from government guns. I know, the EPA already does similar stuff now - but that is mostly comprised of properties that are all or mostly wetlands. This would necessarily encompass pretty much every single piece of private property in the country because it isn't limited to small parcels like my example. It extends to large farms too, for example.

I'm not sure power grab is strong enough term. I'm not sure what to call such an abuse of authority.

[Pandora]

"All your base are belong to us" is what it's called ......

......... and they HELL they do.

Tick, tick, tick .........

[Libertas]

That's why you fill everything in on day one, anybody gives you crap you say "it was like that when I got here".  They push, push back...harder.  Eff 'em!

[Glock32]

It's going to come down to the point where people start to feel that being imprisoned or shot aren't the worst outcome.

[AlanS]

Since most of the property we live on around here is rice fields, I guess they'll consider that wetlands, too. Ducks and geese like it in the winter.

[BMG]

It's going to come down to the point where 

Which = tipping point.

I think we are quickly approaching that point and are due for a shooting civil war if things don't change. I say 'shooting' because I believe we've been in the throes of a soft civil war now for a long time - since Clinton's administration imo. If things get any worse I think we will achieve that aforementioned tipping point and, as Glock has said; People will start to feel that being imprisoned or shot aren't the worst outcome.