Posted May 15, 2015
The House approved
by a 261-155 vote H.R. 1732, the Regulatory Integrity Protection Act, to
withdraw the proposed "waters of the United States" rule, according
to a Farm Futures article available here.
Agri-Pulse also published an article available here
and Feedstuffs here.
Several
agriculture groups including the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and American
Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) supported the House vote.
Agriculture
groups have been concerned about the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers' proposal,
because it could lead to additional water regulations, making it difficult to
continue farming and ranching effectively. Others are concerned that the
proposal may infringe on private landowners' rights.
The
legislation requires EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers not only halt moving
forward on the currently proposed rule, but also begin working with states and
local stakeholders to develop a new and proper set of recommendations. One of
the biggest complaints has been a lack of coordinated effort with state and
local authorities and the federal overexpansion of jurisdiction from rights previously
held at the lower levels, according to Feedstuffs.
“It was
refreshing to see members of Congress order regulators back to the drawing
board, with an admonition to listen to the very real concerns of people who
would have their farm fields and ditches regulated in the same manner as
navigable streams,” said Bob Stallman, president of the AFBF.
The rule
is supposed to clarify what streams, ponds, wetlands, ditches and other
features are regulated under the law as “waters of the United States” (WOTUS),
according to Agri-Pulse.
Administration
officials said they've revised the definitions in the proposed rule to address
an array of concerns expressed by farm groups and other interests. However,
Republicans argued that if the rule's changes were significant enough to
satisfy opponents, the administration would have proposed an entirely new
version.
"This
is a taking of private property," said Rep. Garrett Graves, R-La.
"It's people's homes. It's people's farms, it's people's small businesses."
Rep. Donna
Edwards, D-Md., said Republicans were trying to stop the EPA and Army
Corps of Engineers “from doing their jobs. … No new rules and no clean water,
what a shame.”
For more information on the Clean Water Act, please visit
the National Agricultural Law Center’s website here.
