For Immediate Release
June 19, 2006
Contact: Brian Kennedy (202) 226-9019

Supreme Court makes sensible property rights decision
Chairman Pombo applauds decision to force lower courts to clarify
what receives protection under Clean Water Act

WASHINGTON - Rep. Richard W. Pombo (R-Calif), chairman of the House Committee on Resources, issued the following statement on today's decision by the Supreme Court in Rapanos v. United States.

When the government interprets man-made ditches as waterways deserving Clean Water Act protections, we have clearly deviated from the original intentions of the Act. The Supreme Court is right to demand that lower courts clarify what waterways merit protection under the Clean Water Act.

This should hearten private property owners who worry that their land will be rendered worthless by power-hungry bureaucrats and environmental extremists. Hopefully judges in the lower courts will apply some much-needed common sense to this issue.

Laws like the Clean Water Act are important to ensuring the protection of our environment. Too often, however, these good intentions are exploited to block the rightful use of private property by its owners. This must end.

After the Supreme Court's mind-boggling decision in Kelo v. City of New London last year, I am encouraged that the Roberts Court has taken steps toward protecting private property rights.

For Chairman Pombo's reaction to Kelo v. City of New London, click here.

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