WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 14: Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) walks through the Capitol Building on October 14, 2013 in Washington, DC. As Democratic and Republican leaders negotiate an end to the shutdown and a way to raise the debt limit, the White House postponed a planned Monday afternoon meeting with Boehner and other Congressional leaders. The government shutdown is currently in its 14th day. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) continued his fight against the Environmental Protection Agency this week, urging his colleagues to block a proposed rule that would redefine several forms of surface water under the landmark 1972 Clean Water Act.

The EPA has extended the time available to comment on the rule for the general public until Oct. 20. The agency says the regulation would not protect any new waters, but rather clarify waters, such as streams and wetlands, that are already protected under current law.

Republicans like Barrasso, however, view the move as another example of federal overreach that threatens local land use and zoning.

"Federal regulations have never defined ditches and other upland drainage features as 'waters of the U.S.,'" Barrasso said, according to the Casper Star-Tribune. "But this proposed rule does, and it will have a huge impact on farmers, on ranchers, on small businesses that need to put a shovel in the ground to make a living."

In 2012, Barrasso joined Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Dean Heller (R-Nev.) and Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) in introducing legislation that would prohibit the EPA from going forward with the proposed regulation.