Office of U.S. Rep. Sam Graves

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Sam Graves (MO-06), House Small Business Committee Chairman, was recently in the Parkville area to highlight the ongoing attempt by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers to undercut property owners and those who depend on their land to earn a living.

Specifically, the EPA recently released a new proposal that would dramatically expand its authority to regulate ponds, ditches, and gullies under the Clean Water Act (CWA).  This unprecedented move employs arbitrary, ambiguous, and confusing terms to expand the size and scope of the EPA’s authority, which is often exercised locally by the Army Corps of Engineers.

“This land grab is an infringement on our property rights, and the consequences will be fewer jobs, more permitting, higher costs, lengthy litigation, and more delay and disruption for property owners.  It’s not just property rights that are at risk like we see in Parkville.  Any industry that relies on land use, such as farming and home building, will fall victim to the mandates of Washington bureaucrats,” said Congressman Graves.

Last week, Parkville resident Steve Hall took Congressman Graves on a tour of his property in unincorporated Platte County, so that he could tell the story behind his EPA ordeal.

“I’ve spent nine weeks begging the Army Corps of Engineers and the EPA for permission to build a small pond where no water presently exists.  If the EPA can fine a private landowner $152,200 for building a pond designed to capture runoff on private property near Parkville, then the real question is what can’t they do?  Remember, we are talking about a private gully that holds no water and drains into a creek located 2.5 miles from the Missouri River.  Sadly, I can neither afford the fine or a lawsuit.  Hence, no pond and the EPA wins,” said Hall.