The environment is a major issue in the 2016 presidential election.
While on the campaign trail in Ohio recently, Republican presidential hopeful Marco Rubio talked about environmental policies, specifically saying Environmental Protection Agency rules are too demanding.
Rubio said to abide by the rules when mining or drilling, you have, “to take caution not to disturb bodies of water barely bigger than a puddle.”
That caught the attention of PolitiFact Florida. After some checking, the statement received a MOSTLY FALSE rating on the Truth-O-Meter.
PolitiFact writer Josh Gillin said this has to do with rules pertaining to clean water.
“We’re actually talking about tributaries, rivulets and things that can go into navigable waterways… bigger lakes and river and some ponds.”
Gillin went on to say this rule, which is currently under review, doesn’t specifically include puddles.
It is for that reason Rubio’s claim received a MOSTLY FALSE rating.
SOURCES: Rubio says EPA regulations are too strict
- U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, Prepared remarks for energy speech in Salem, Ohio, Oct. 16, 2015
- Environmental Protection Agency, Fact sheet about Clean Water rule, May 2015
- Environmental Protection Agency, "Clean Water Rule," Accessed Oct. 20, 2015
- Environmental Protection Agency, "History of the Clean Water Act," Accessed Oct. 20, 2015
- Environmental Protection Agency, "Clean Water rule litigation statement," Accessed Oct. 20, 2015
- Federal Register, Clean water rule, June 29, 2015
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Approved jurisdictional determinations, Accessed Oct. 21, 2015
- American Farm Bureau Federation, Ditchtherule, Accessed Oct. 21, 2015
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce press release, "U.S. Chamber of Commerce applauds passage of House legislation to stop waters of the U.S. rule," May 13, 2015
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Comments about proposed rule, Nov. 12, 2014
- The Hill, "Federal judge blocks Obama’s water rule," Aug. 27, 2015
- Associated Press, "EPA: Clean water rule in effect despite court ruling," Aug. 28, 2015
- Christian Science Monitor, "Why conservatives applaud judges who block federal clean water rules," Oct. 10, 2015
- PolitiFact, Statements about energy, Accessed Oct. 20, 2015
- Interview, Robert Daguillard, Environmental Protection Agency spokesman, Oct. 20, 2015
- Interview, Don Parrish, American Farm Bureau Federation senior director Congressional relations, Oct. 20, 2015
- Interview, William Rodger, American Farm Bureau Federation spokesman, Oct. 20, 2015
- Interview, Whitney Ray, spokesman for Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, Oct. 20, 2015
- Interview, Megan Van Etten, U.S. Chamber of Commerce spokeswoman, Oct. 20, 2015
- Interview, Royal C. Gardner, Professor of Law and Director, Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy Stetson University College of Law, Oct. 21, 2015
- Interview, John Rumpler, Senior Attorney, Environment America, Oct. 21
- Interview, Professor Karl Coplan, Pace Law School and Co-Director of its Environmental Litigation Clinic, Oct. 21, 2015
- Interview, David Goldston, director of government affairs National Resource Defense Council Action Fund, Oct. 21, 2015
- Interview, Todd S. Aagaard, Vice Dean and Professor of Law Villanova University School of Law, Oct. 21, 2015
- Interview, William L. Andreen, University of Alabama School of Law professor, Oct. 21, 2015
- Interview, Robin Craig, University of Utah law professor, Oct. 21, 2015