The government shutdown is delaying a comment period for the Trump administration’s new Waters of the U.S. proposal. The Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers will delay publishing the proposed WOTUS replacement in the Federal Register until after funding is restored at EPA, according to Politico. The 60-day comment period won’t begin until the proposed rule is published …
Alabama Irrigation Workshops
The Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Committee has been working with the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES) and Auburn University (AU), to identify which watersheds will have funding priority. In response to this initiative, Alabama Extension will host two free irrigation workshops for producers that include trainings, as well as on-farm demonstrations of …
Goal of New WOTUS Rule Proposal
Simplifying definitions is the purpose behind the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ efforts to propose a new Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. Rod Bain has the details. EPA Acting Administrator for Water, Dave Ross, explains the six categories of jurisdiction of waters in the United States under the proposed redefinition of the WOTUS …
Farm Bureau’s Duvall, Aiken Cite Strengths of Clean Water Rule
The newly proposed Clean Water Rule would empower America’s farmers and ranchers to protect the nation’s water resources and provide much-needed regulatory clarity to guide those stewardship efforts, according to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall. Duvall spoke in Tennessee during an agricultural stakeholder meeting on the newly proposed Waters of the United States Rule. The event, hosted by …
EPA and Army Propose New ‘Waters of the United States’ Definition
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Army (Army) are proposing a clear, understandable and implementable definition of “waters of the United States” that clarifies federal authority under the Clean Water Act. Unlike the Obama administration’s 2015 definition of “waters of the United States,” today’s proposal contains a straightforward definition that would result in significant cost …
Desantis Transition Panel Weighs Water Issues
Money set aside annually for the restoration of the Everglades and other waterways should also help end the use of septic tanks, a former House speaker suggested Monday as a panel considered potential environmental policies for Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis. Former Speaker Steve Crisafulli said the incoming governor should tap the “Legacy Florida” funding to aid conversions from septic tanks to …
Hoping for Farm Bill and WOTUS News this Week
Many people are anxiously waiting to hear if the 2018 Farm Bill could be completed this week. And as Tyron Spearman reports, we could also possibly learn more concerning the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule. Sponsored ContentNuseed Carinata Covers New GroundJuly 15, 2024CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024
WRAC Discusses EAA Reservoir
The Water Resources Analysis Coalition (WRAC) held a public forum this morning along with some board members of the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). Brandon Tucker, governing board member of SFWMD and WRAC facilitator says he was happy with how the forum went and the discussions that took place. One hot topic during the forum was the Everglades Agricultural …
Deadlines Set in Florida-Georgia ‘Water War’
Florida and Georgia will have until the end of January to file new arguments in the legal fight over water use impacting the Apalachicola River system, a special master said this week. Paul J. Kelly, a senior judge on the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals who is serving as special master, set a Jan. 31 deadline for the initial …
Water Woes Become a Political Wildcard
Throughout the summer, politicians heard from Floridians angered by the latest bouts of toxic blue-green algae in the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers, along with a festering red-tide outbreak on the Gulf Coast. Protesters focused on the state’s handling of rising sea levels, a limited acknowledgement of climate change and past actions by Gov. Rick Scott such as reducing funding …