Stakeholder sessions will be held weekly between September and November The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of the Army (the agencies) will hold 11 sessions to give stakeholders an opportunity to provide recommendations on a revised definition of “waters of the United States.” The agencies will hold nine, 2-hour long teleconferences that will be tailored for specific …
EPA Announces Appointment of Trey Glenn to Region 4 Administrator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt announced the appointment of Trey Glenn of Alabama to become Regional Administrator for EPA’s Southeast Region (Region 4). Mr. Glenn will employ his 22 years of environmental and regulatory experience in leading the environmental protection efforts across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Mr. Glenn served as …
WOTUS Comment Period Ends August 28
It was announced back at the end of June by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt that the EPA had sent its repeal of the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule to the federal register, thus beginning the process of ending the regulation. A comment period on WOTUS has been open but it will end August 28th. National Cattlemen’s …
Chlorpyrifos Ban Introduced in U.S. Senate
Connecticut Democrat Richard Blumenthal and New Mexico Democrat Tom Udall Tuesday introduced a bill in the U.S. Senate to ban chlorpyrifos, a widely used agricultural insecticide. Udall explained that The American Academy of Pediatrics says chlorpyrifos use “puts all children at risk,” adding that “we need to listen to the experts” and ban the pesticide.” The Obama-era Environmental Protection Agency …
Senate Committee Blocks E15 Bill
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee has halted a bill that would have allowed gasoline with 15 percent ethanol to be sold year-round. The bill was co-sponsored by Republican Senators Deb Fischer of Nebraska and Chuck Grassley of Iowa, along with Democratic Senator Joe Donnelly of Indiana. Despite the bipartisan support, the legislation was unable to muster enough support …
Pruitt, Zinke Visit State Farm Bureau Presidents
During a Washington, D.C. meeting earlier this week, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt told state Farm Bureau President’s that “The farming industry deserves regulatory certainty.” While speaking during the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Council of President’s meeting, Pruitt told the group EPA is returning power to the states and “standing with farmers who have been hurt by misguided policies …
Pleased with Process to Repeal WOTUS
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt told lawmakers Tuesday that the EPA has sent its repeal of the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule to the federal register, beginning the process of ending the regulation. Many agriculture groups were pleased with the announcement, including the National Pork Producers Council. Their President, Ken Maschhoff, in a release said: “This is great …
Stabenow Expresses Concerns with EPA Scientist Dismissals
The ranking Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee has expressed concerns over the dismissal of scientists by the Environmental Protection Agency. Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow specifically voiced her concerns over EPA administrator Scott Pruitt’s move to dismiss nine members of the Board of Scientific Counselors, a major scientific review board within the agency. The board reviews the research carried out …