William Tauzin: “I want to add my support to your investigation into this newest allegation of the abuse of power at EPA. Our…”

“I want to add my support to your investigation into this newest allegation of the abuse of power at EPA. Our Subcommittee on National Economic Growth, Natural Resources, and Regulatory Affairs, we often call it the subcommittee to cut red tape, has been investigating EPA activity, and that activity closely mirrors what you have encountered at the agency. Let me stop to say I also want to commend you for your efforts on behalf of property owners who have encountered regulatory overreach in the wetlands area. I have got several constituents in my district who have encountered similar problems. One gentleman, Bob Floyd, owns a farm in my hometown of Muncie, and he had been farming this land for 50 years. One day his neighbor accidently destroys the drainage tile which is necessary to irrigate his land, and suddenly a mud puddle developed on one corner of the field. In swooped EPA and said he could no longer farm the land because this might be an endangered wetland. It is that type of overreach and abuse of the program that have led to many of our problems.”