Federal Agencies' Abusive Control

Open Email to Sen. Cruz (TX):

Dear Sen. Cruz,
We had been discussing the power of the Environmental Protection Agency.
In your form letter you said, "America has been blessed with many natural resources. It is our duty to act as responsible stewards to protect our waters, air and land, as well as the many plants and animals that inhabit the country.  The best way to protect all these resources is rational environmental laws, balancing the protection of the environment with the rights of private property owners.  We should also recognize that protecting the environment and promoting economic growth are not mutually exclusive policy goals."
We agree on that point.
You also said, "State and local governments, businesses, and private property owners who are most familiar with the specific needs of their own resources should take a leading role in this important task.  Where any federal authority is granted, the government must work collaboratively with local authorities to impose minimal hardship on citizens and personal property while pursuing conservation goals."
We also agree on this point, but herein lies the rub. Not only does the Environmental Protection Agency but other various other agencies, such as the US Fish and Wildlife Service, exercise unnecessary mandatory controls on the use of private property. For example, the EPA limits carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, without any justification that it is a direct benefit to the public on air quality. Restrictions on development of private property which happen to be a home for snail darters or prairie chickens are no benefit to the general public. In fact, most mandatory restrictions are detrimental to the public interest through inhibiting the economy and making fewer jobs available.
What I am seeking from you and other members of Congress is to rein in the powers of these agencies to conform closely with what Congress had intended when it set up the laws establishing the agencies.