Discussion on Water Regulations at Southeast WOTUS Roundtable

Dan Irrigation, Legislative, Water, WOTUS Act

We continue our coverage of the Southeast Region Waters of the U. S. (WOTUS) roundtable, which was coordinated by the North Carolina Farm Bureau with the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers. Farmers and other representatives from several southeast states took part. Pete Hunter is a 50-year farmer from Mississippi and was asked to participate on behalf of the Mississippi …

Lawmakers Urging Supreme Court to Adopt Limited WOTUS Rule

Dan Legislative, WOTUS Act

A group of lawmakers jointly filed an amicus brief supporting the petitioners in the pending U.S. Supreme Court case Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency. The decision in the case will clarify what waterways are considered “waters of the United States,” or WOTUS, which will determine the scope of the federal government’s authority in regulating private citizens and businesses under the …

NCBA Working on Various Issues for Cattle Producers

Dan Cattle, Legislative, Regulation

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) recently sent letters to producers across the country discussing the challenging year that many have faced. This includes the threat of tax hikes, to the uncertainty around the Water of the United States (WOTUS) and many more issues. During the recent Alabama Cattlemen’s Association Convention Mary Bea Halimeh, director of membership and affiliated services for NCBA, …

Changes to Clean Water Rule Will Hurt Family Farms

Dan Irrigation, Regulation, Water, WOTUS Act

(WASHINGTON, January 5, 2022) — Farming members of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) will participate in a roundtable on Thursday, Jan. 6, to discuss the impact of the proposal to repeal and replace the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR). The event is hosted by the Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Advocacy. The Biden administration recently proposed a “step …

AFBF, Senators Concerned with Possible Water Rule Roll Back

Dan Irrigation, Legislative, Water, WOTUS Act

The fight over the Biden EPA’s move to roll back the Trump EPA’s Navigable Waters Protection Rule that reversed WOTUS is heating up. At least 30 GOP farm-state senators are behind a bill to make permanent last year’s Navigable Waters Protection Rule that reversed Obama WOTUS and its wetlands permit requirements. The issue is a major concern for the American …

EPA’s Intention to Revise WOTUS Disappoints Farm Bureau

Dan Environment, Irrigation, Water

It’s ‘Groundhog Day’ all over again for the controversial Obama-era Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule, as Biden’s EPA Chief Michael Regan moves to dump the Trump rule that eased the sweeping Obama wetlands restrictions. He recently told the Senate Environment Committee the Obama WOTUS rule and the Trump replacement both need fixing. But American Farm Bureau’s Don Parrish fears …

EPA and the Army Seek Input in the Review of the Waters of the U.S. Rule

Dan Environment, Industry News Release, Water

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 …

WOTUS Comment Period Ends August 28

Dan Cattle, Water

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 …

Pleased with Process to Repeal WOTUS

Dan Beef, Water

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 …