Agency agrees to let Wyoming’s Andy Johnson keep stock pond on private land; won’t have to pay fines

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) released the following statement in response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) settlement with Wyoming’s Andy Johnson. In 2013, the EPA threatened to fine Johnson up to $187,500 per day for building a pond on his property. 

The Johnsons can now keep their stock pond and will not be fined.

“The Johnson family is no different from other American families across the country. They just want to do the right thing and be left in peace. Instead, under the Obama administration, people like Andy Johnson have to spend more and more time and money battling out-of-control Washington agencies like the EPA. 

“It shouldn’t have come to this. Local land-use decisions should never be driven by Washington, and the EPA should never be able to fine someone millions of dollars for building a pond on their own land. 

“This settlement is a welcome rebuke of an agency that has gone too far. In the Senate, I will continue to work to block these kinds of regulatory assaults.” 

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