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<br />gaging station. The fanners complained that the poor water quality has a negative effect on certain <br />types of crops and want to force Reclamation to store and release water in a manner that ensures the <br />salinity objective is met. A district court had rejected the Plaintiffs claims. <br /> <br />Administration Issues Wetlands Guidance in Response to SWANCC Decision: Responding to a <br />two-year old Supreme Court decision, the Bush administration issued new guidelines on Ian. 10 and <br />outlined an upcoming rulemaking to clarify which wetlands fall under federal jurisdiction. Under the <br />new guidelines, the federal government relinquishes some authority over the regulation of isolated <br />wetlands that lie wholly within one state and are not connected to other bodies ofwatet. <br /> <br />The EP A and Corps issued the guidelines in response to the Supreme Court's 2001 decision in Solid <br />Waste Agency of Northern Cook County v. u.s. Army Corps of Engineers (SW ANCC) that limited <br />federal authority to regulate isolated wetlands. <br /> <br />Before the Supreme Court's decision, the federal government had jurisdiction over isolated wetlands <br />under the auspices of the migratory bird rule, which tied wetlands protection into the Commerce <br />Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The new guidelines assert federal regulation over traditional <br />waterways and their tributaries, but relinquish jurisdiction over isolated wetlands if their sole <br />authority was based on the migratory bird rule. <br /> <br />In addition to the guidance, EP A and the Corps announced a proposed rulemaking, which could result <br />in revisions to the Clean Water Act. The agencies asked for public comment on definition of the term <br />"isolated waters," and the proper role of interstate commerce in wetlands jurisdiction. EP A officials <br />said they want a more scientific underpinning of the definition of an isolated wetland. <br /> <br />I intend to consult with the new Director of the Colorado Water Quality Control Division to see if a <br />joint letter should be sent regarding the proposed rules. <br /> <br />New House Committee Chairs: The Speaker ofthe U.S. House of Representatives has announced <br />the Committee chairs for the lOsth Congress: <br /> <br />. Agriculture - Bob Goodlatte (VA) <br />. Appropriations - Bill Young (FL) <br />. Armed Services - Duncan Hunter (CA) <br />. Budget - Jim Nuss1e (IA) <br />. Education and the Workforce - John <br />Boehner (OH) <br />. Energy and Commerce - Billy Tauzin <br />(LA) <br />. Financial Services - Mike Oxley (OR) <br />. Govemment Reform - Tom Davis <br />(VA) <br />. House Administration - Bob Ney (OR) <br />. International Relations - Henry Hyde <br />(lL) <br />. Judiciary - Jim Sensenbrenner (WI) <br /> <br />. Resources - Richard Pombo (CA) <br />. Rules - David Dreier (CA) <br />. Science - Sherwood Boehlert (NY) <br />. Small Business - Don Manzullo (IL) <br />. Standards of Official Conduct - Joel <br />Hefley (CO) <br />. Transportation and Infrastructure - Don <br />Young (AK) <br />. Veterans Affairs - Chris Smith (NJ) <br />. Ways and Means - Bill Thomas (CA) <br />. Select Committee on Intelligence - <br />Porter Goss (FL) <br />. . Select Committee on Homeland <br />Security - Chris Cox (CA) <br /> <br />4 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br />