Last Thursday, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) took part in an event at the White House where President Trump announced new regulations to implement the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Associate Director of Government Affairs for both the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the Public Lands Council (PLC), Tanner Beymer, explains what NEPA is and why these changes are needed.
According to a NCBA release, NEPA was first enacted in 1970 to “create and maintain conditions under which man and nature can exist in productive harmony,” and has not undergone substantive regulatory revision since 1986. Ranchers must undergo NEPA reviews for many reasons, but common examples include renewal of a term grazing permit, construction of range improvements, or to become eligible for participation in USDA programs. However, due to litigation, outside pressure, an abundance of caution, and a variety of other reasons, oftentimes these costly processes are further delayed and create an uncertain business environment for livestock producers. When finalized, the draft rules announced will relieve that pressure, clarify exemptions, and eliminate redundancies.
NCBA Action Alert: Send In Your NEPA Comments Today!
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Last week NCBA President Jennifer Houston joined President Trump at the White House for the announcement of new proposed rules to reform the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
The comment period is open and now is the time to submit your stories in favor of reforming NEPA with these new rules!
NEPA reforms are long overdue because this is a law that is close to 50 years old and even includes words that are not commonly used in the English language anymore. Ranchers and livestock producers all depend on grazing permits, range improvements, and access to USDA programs that all can be delayed by the bureaucratic red tape in NEPA.
Source: National Cattlemen’s Beef Association