Deadline to Submit WOTUS Comments Monday


There’s still time to submit comments to the Environmental Protection Agency regarding its proposed changes to the Waters of the U.S. rule.
Farmers have until Monday, February 7th, to tell the Environmental Protection Agency it’s proposed changes to the Waters of the U.S. rule are harmful.
Courtney Briggs, American Farm Bureau Federation Senior Director of Congressional Relations, says it’s important the EPA receives comments directly from farmers and ranchers.
“The agencies hear frequently from folks like myself who are representing national trade organizations, but once they hear from people on the ground who are experiencing the effects of these regulations day in and day out, those are the most impactful stories, those are the things that resonate with the agencies. So, it’s important that they hear from the regulated community directly from farmers and ranchers.”
Briggs says it’s best to tell the EPA how the rule will impact your farm.
“I think if farmers and ranchers have personal anecdotes that they’re willing to share about the struggles they’ve experienced with Clean Water Act permitting or dealing with the Army Corps of Engineers, that is like gold in a comment period. But it’s also important that the regulated community express that given that the Supreme Court is taking the Sackett case, that the agencies really need to hit the pause button, there’s no reason to move forward with this proposed rulemaking.”
Briggs adds it’s easy to submit comments online.
“The easiest way to do that is to go to EPA’s WOTUS landing page and there’s a link under Current Activities that will take you directly to the Federal Register notice. And the comments do not have to be extensive or technical, you just need to express that this proposed rule will be harmful to farmers and ranchers.”
Submit comments at epa.gov/wotus.
Source: NAFB News Service

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