Farmers Encouraged To Comment On Updated Clean Water Rule

The EPA is proposing an updated definition of the Clean Water Rule so farmers and ranchers can better understand what they can and cannot do.  The American Farm Bureau’s Don Parrish, said the clarification is a step toward common-sense regulation.

“This clarification hopefully brings a lot of common-sense to the definition of what is in the federal government’s ability to regulate. A common-sense definition we think will do two things, provide an opportunity for the nation to have clean water, but also provide clear rules that farmers need in order to operate their farms.”

Parrish added the proposal is an improvement over the current rule.

“We want a farmer and rancher to be able to walk out on his property and understand where the Clean Water Act rule applies. In the last proposal it was so broad and so vague that only the federal government, or an army of lawyers and probably a legion of consultants could ultimately tell a farmer where on their farm the Clean Water Act had jurisdiction.”

The comment period on the proposal closes April 15^th.  Comments can be submitted On-line.

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