County Commissioners approve resolution opposing EPA regulations on Clean Water Act

At Monday afternoon’s Phillips County Commissioners Meeting, the Commissioners passed an amendment to extend the lease the Child and Family Services Office in the County Court House and appointed a new Phillips County Museum Board Member.

The lease for the Child and Family Services Office was extended through 2015 paying $10.60 per square foot, according to Commissioner Lesly Robinson.

“And then we appointed Sharon Emond to replace Lori Taylor on the Museum Board,” said Robinson.

Emond, who recently retired as Curator of the PC Museum, will now sit on the Museum Board replacing Taylor who was recently hired as the PC Museum’s Curator.

So they pretty much switched positions,” added Robinson.

At the November 10 Phillips County Commissioners meeting, the County Commissioners passed a resolution (No. 2014-13) opposing additional regulations proposed by the EPA with respect to the Clean Water Act and the Waters of the United States.

The resolution states: Whereas, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and US Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) are seeking to expand control over additional “Waters of the United States” and

… the proposed rule would modify existing regulations regarding which waters fall under federal jurisdiction through the Federal Water Pollution Control Act which has been in place for 25 years and

…Phillips County has an obligation to protect the health, welfare and safety of their citizens, as well as maintain and improve their quality of life and…

Phillips County and the State of Montana’s economy is driven by agriculture and natural resources, both of which are dependent on our waters. If implemented as written, the proposed rules will have serious negative consequences for our major industries.

Whereas, County owned and maintained infrastructure such as bridges, roads and ditches will also be negatively affected by proposed rule change, if adopted.

Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the Phillips County Commissioners hereby OPPOSE additional regulations that have been proposed by the EPA to redefine the current definition as well as implement additional enforcement, with respect to the Clean Water Act and the Waters of the United State.

The resolution was signed by County Commissioner Chairman Richard Dunbar, Commissioner Bruce Christofferson and Commissioner Robinson.

The next Phillips County Commissioners meeting will be on Monday, November 24 with public participation time starting at 1:30 p.m.