The American Farm Bureau Federation and several state Farm Bureaus have met with the Environmental Protection Agency repeatedly – according to AFBF President Bob Stallman – and each time – agency officials have declined to grapple with the serious, real world implications of the rule. Now – he says EPA is engaged in an intensive public relations campaign – and AFBF believes its statements are directly contrary to the reality of the proposed Waters of the U.S. rule. That’s why Farm Bureau has released a comprehensive document responding to inaccurate and misleading comments made about EPA’s latest rule to Congress. The document explains how the rule would give EPA broad Clean Water Act jurisdiction over dry land features and farming practices long declared off-limits by Congress and the Supreme Court. Stallman says Farm Bureau is dedicated to communicating to farmers, their elected representatives and the public how the proposed rule will impose costly and time-intensive federal permitting regimes on commonplace and essential practices U.S. farmers and ranchers depend on. Farm Bureau hopes the document will contribute to the ongoing discussion in Congress regarding the rule and its implications not just for farming – but the entire U.S. economy.
Source: NAFB News Service