The non-partisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found that the EPA violated federal law in promoting the agency’s “Water of the U.S.” rule—also referred to as WOTUS.
The GAO says that the EPA’s use of Thunderclap and other social media tools was a prohibited use of EPA’s appropriations for unauthorized publicity or propaganda purposes. EPA used social media to drum up support and solicit positive comments for the controversial rule, even though federal law prohibits agencies from engaging in lobbying and propaganda.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) says the GAO report confirms what producers have long suspected—that the EPA is “an agency with a radical agenda”. NCBA president Philip Ellis called on Congress to fully defund implementation of the WOTUS rule “and bring accountability to the EPA”.
Opponents of WOTUS are attempting to block the rule through an amendment to the omnibus spending bill working its way through Congress.
Source: www.brownfieldagnews.com