Right now, because of litigation, the 2015 definition is in effect in 22 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories, while the previous regulations, issued in the 1980s, are in effect in the remaining 28 states. This unpredictable, regulatory patchwork will not continue under the Trump Administration. Going forward, the new definition for […]
THE HILL: Opinion: Clear Water Rule means relief for farmers, ranchers
/in NEWS /by wpengineIn 2015 the Obama administration created a “waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS) rule that was so broad and vague that almost any spot where rainwater flows or pools might be tagged as a federally protected body of water. With the stroke of a pen, farmers and ranchers across the heartland suddenly did not know if […]
WHEELING NEWS-REGISTER: Letters to the Editor: Support New Rules
/in NEWS /by wpengineMany farms in the U.S. have been in the family for three, four, five and six generations or more. Most states have Century Farms programs, which recognize farms that have been in the same family for more than 100 years. In 2013 there were 15,000 Century Farms in Iowa, 9,800 in Illinois, 8,583 in Wisconsin […]
YELLOWHAMMER NEWS: Proposed Waters of the United States guidelines praised as good for Alabama farmers, landowners
/in NEWS /by wpengineFederal officials proposed new Waters of the United States (WOTUS) guidelines on Monday to help protect farmers and landowners from intrusive government regulations, per a release from the Alabama Farmers Federation. In their proposal, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers clarified federal authority under the Clean Water Act. Alabama Farmers […]
QUAD-CITY TIMES: Iowa ag community cheers new water rule
/in NEWS /by wpengineThe previous rule received backlash from farmers and ag groups, who said it would have given the federal government broad regulatory authority over even the smallest collections of water on farmland. The Obama-era rule was challenged in court and was never implemented in some states, including Iowa. The issue became a political rallying cry for […]
CAPITAL PRESS: New WOTUS definition an improvement
/in NEWS /by wpengineThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Army (Army) are delivering on the President’s agenda by proposing a new definition for waters of the U.S. The agencies’ proposal would end years of uncertainty over where federal jurisdiction begins and ends. It would clarify the role of our state and tribal partners […]
THE MISSOURI TIMES: Opinion: New clean water rule gives farmers and ranchers clear guidelines
/in NEWS /by wpengineMissouri’s farmers and ranchers may soon have clear rules about how to protect our waterways. On December 11, President Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a new Clean Water Rule that would fix many of the problems created by the Obama administration’s 2015 “WOTUS Rule” power grab. Missouri farmers had many complaints with President Obama’s […]
THE GREELEY TRIBUNE: Opinion: Doug Benevento: EPA seeks clarity on Clean Water Act for farmers, landowners and states
/in NEWS /by wpengineOur new proposal would make it easier to understand where the Clean Water Act applies — and where it does not. It would facilitate critical infrastructure projects, reduce barriers to business development, and support economic growth. In Colorado, a headwater state and a semi-arid region, water resources are unique compared to other parts of the […]
COLUMBIA DAILY TRIBUNE: Opinion: EPA seeks clarity on Clean Water Act for farmers, landowners and states
/in NEWS /by wpengineRight now, because of litigation, the 2015 definition is in effect in 22 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories, while the previous regulations, issued in the 1980s, are in effect in the remaining 28 states. This unpredictable, regulatory patchwork will not continue under the Trump Administration. Going forward, the new definition for […]
WASHINGTON EXAMINER: Opinion: Rep. Greg Walden: Abolition of the ‘WOTUS’ rule means one less burden on rural America
/in NEWS /by wpengineThankfully, President Trump heard the concerns of America’s agriculture community and acted to rein in what he called “one of the worst examples of federal regulation.” Shortly after taking office, Trump ordered his administration to review and replace the previous definition of the “waters of the United States.” Crafted by the feedback of people on […]
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: EDITORIAL: There goes another one: Trump continues regulatory rollbacks
/in NEWS /by wpengineOn Tuesday, Donald Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency announced it would roll back Obama-era rules that, under cover of the 1972 Clean Water Act, empowered federal bureaucrats to regulate virtually every puddle, pond and drainage ditch under the guise of protecting wetlands. The result was a morass of red tape that created a nightmare for farmers, […]