The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture passed a resolution at its annual meeting in Burlington, Vt., last week that the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers should withdraw their Waters of the United States rule.
North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, an elected Republican, put the item on the agenda of the nonpartisan group that represents the state agriculture departments in the states and territories.
The resolution also asks the EPA and the Army Corps to collaborate with state departments of agriculture and other stakeholders on the appropriate scope of federal Clean Water Act jurisdiction.
“As it stands, this proposed rule dramatically expands EPA’s jurisdiction and creates too much uncertainty for our farmers and ranchers,” said NASDA CEO Barbara Glenn. “This rule must be withdrawn.”
“It is critical that the agencies engage state regulators and stakeholders to work together to find a path forward before the agencies move towards implementation or further rulemaking,” Glenn said.
NASDA previously submitted comments expressing concerns about the interpretive rule on agricultural conservation practices that accompanies WOTUS.
Source: www.hagstromreport.com