Hillary Clinton says the supports the Environmental Protection Agency’s “Waters of the U.S.” rule, while Donald Trump says he will eliminate the rule if elected president.
The candidates made their comments in statements published Sept. 20 on farmfutures.com.
“I support the rule, but know we have to work with all stakeholders to ensure its common sense implementation,” the Democratic nominee told the publication. “I was pleased the EPA worked hard to ensure the Clean Water Rule maintains longstanding exemptions for common farming practices, while clarifying the Clean Water Act and ensuring much needed certainty for all stakeholders so our families and businesses can rely on clean water.”
Her Republican opponent took the opposite position.
“I will eliminate the unconstitutional Waters of the U.S. rule, and will direct the Army Corps of Engineers and EPA to no longer use this unlawful rule and related guidance documents in making jurisdictional determinations,” Trump said. “I will also ensure that these agencies respect the valid exclusions under environmental statutes for agricultural practices. As importantly, I will appoint a pro-farmer administrator of EPA.”
In making the rule, the EPA an the Corps of Engineers sought to define the “waters of the United States” that can be regulated under the Clean Water Act. The agencies sought to reconcile two separate Supreme Court decisions on cases involving the act.
The rules generated a flood of criticism and legal challenges from farmers, ranchers and irrigators.
Source: www.capitalpress.com