DC Report: Mullin backs 'Leave Our Lakes Alone' proposal
BY RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer
Sunday, February 10, 2013
2/10/13 at 2:58 AM
Second District Congressman Markwayne Mullin has signed onto Missouri Republican Rep. Vicky Hartzler's Leave Our Lakes Alone Act.
The bill attempts to curb federal shoreline regulation on lakes administered by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Hartzler's district includes Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks, and Mullin's district includes two large FERC reservoirs: Grand Lake and Lake Hudson.
Developers and landowners on FERC-controlled lakes have complained that recent FERC enforcement efforts have included unwarranted removal of existing structures.
"The counties involved in Oklahoma's Grand Lake watershed know what is best for their economic viability and future growth, not a bureaucrat in an office far away who may have never stepped foot in northeastern Oklahoma," said Mullin. "This is exactly the kind of common-sense legislation I came to Washington to fight for."
The measure is supported by Dan Sullivan, chief executive officer of the Grand River Dam Authority, which operates Grand Lake and Lake Hudson under licenses from FERC.
"We are grateful for the interest and work Congressman Mullin is doing for property owners on Grand Lake," said Sullivan. "Continuing the work that Congresswoman Hartzler has started is very important to the development of Grand Lake."
Inhofe presses EPA over sulfur dioxide standards
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe has not shown much inclination to let up on Environmental Protection Agency Director Lisa Jackson, who leaves office Thursday.
Last week, Inhofe and Louisiana Sens. David Vitter and Mary Landrieu wrote to Jackson, asking her to tone down proposed sulfur dioxide standards, saying they "include assumptions dreamed up by bureaucrats at EPA."
Inhofe and some others want states to set their own clean-air standards. In last week's letter to the EPA, Inhofe said the proposed regulations "unnecessarily restrict Oklahoma's booming energy and industrial development, with no added benefits to clean air."
Egypt pans Inhofe over criticism of Morsi
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry hit back at Inhofe last week, calling his Jan. 31 remarks about President Mohammed Morsi "irresponsible and violent."
Inhofe said the United States' relationship with Egypt has "come to a halt" under Morsi, who Inhofe said is "our enemy."
