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The Midwest Cattleman · August 19, 2021 · P12
WHAT IS THE FUTURE farmers and ranchers clar- in a way that doesn’t go as will reimpose a vastly over-
continued from page 10 ity. If EPA was seeking the far as the Obama rule went broad interpretation of fed-
middle ground, maybe they which swept in largely iso- eral jurisdiction over waters
anced, they were very, very would try to pick out a few lated areas. “It’s going to be a around the nation.”
one-sided,” Parrish says of particular provisions and very difficult balancing pro- Congressional Western
the announcement unveiling try to amend it, he says. But cess,” Liebesman explains. Caucus and Senate West-
the administration’s plan on their approach so far has not He expects at least a cou- ern Caucus Members, led by
rolling back Trump’s water indicated that is the route ple of years before any new Chairman Dan Newhouse,
rule. Instead of signaling a they look to take, he explains. proposed rule is issued, R-Wash., Chairman Steve
middle ground as EPA Ad- which must look at the eco- Daines, R-Mont., Rep. Mari-
ministrator Michael Regan Balancing act nomics, science and new ra- annette Miller-Meeks, R-Io-
had suggested during con- The Trump rule was based tionale for changing NWPR. wa, and Sen. Joni Ernst,
firmation hearings, Parrish basically on a hydrologic “They may go through the R-Iowa, wrote another letter
says EPA officials signaled connection of flow between two-step process again or try highlighting the impacts that
in Hill briefings and with a wetland and traditionally to repeal the Trump rule and returning to a drastic expan-
those on Capitol Hill and in navigable water and not an get that through first, before sion of federal jurisdiction
briefings to the ag commu- ecological connection, which they actually come up with a over non-navigable waters
nity that the rule’s handling was fundamental to the replacement rule.” will have on rural communi-
of prior converted croplands Obama rule, explains Larry Yager says NCBA oppos- ties across the United States.
that were once wetlands and Liebesman, a senior advisor es any federal action that “Confusion, regulatory
other specific ag provisions in for Dawson & Associates, a hinders producers’ ability to uncertainty, and litigation
the Navigable Waters Protec- prominent consulting firm make investments in their have surrounded the scope of
tion Rule were “problematic.” that specializes in environ- land and care for their cattle. federal authority of our na-
Other concerning expansions mental permitting and au- “Moving forward, NCBA will tion’s navigable waterways
that could be coming would thored briefs on the Clean continue engaging with the for decades. With your recent
be a return to the Obama- Water Act jurisdiction over Biden Administration, Con- actions, the Biden admin-
era approach of ephemeral adjacent wetlands. gress and the Courts to pro- istration is trampling upon
features and ditches or farm The 2006 Rapanos court tect cattle producers’ proper- this progress and further
ponds. opinion introduced the con- ty rights.” jeopardizing rural Ameri-
Parrish says those in the cept of significant nexus. Li- Steen states, “We call on cans’ confidence that this
agriculture community be- ebesman explains the Biden EPA to keep the term ‘nav- administration is working in
lieved the NWPR protected administration is going to igable’ in the Clean Water their best interest… Rural
the environment and water have to somehow address Act and not return to flawed, communities in the West and
quality while also providing the significant nexus test but overly complicated and ex- across the country are dedi-
cessive regulation. In the cated to clean water and do
meantime, this decision will not deserve to be punished
prevent disruption and allow by far-reaching, burdensome
farmers and ranchers to con- federal regulations,” they
tinue operating with certain- note.
ty of the law.” Miller-Meeks also intro-
Congressional action duced legislation with the
Top Republican leaders in support of 114 members of
the House of Representatives Congress expressing the
joined House Agriculture sense of the House that clean
water is a national priority
Committee Member David
WEE COMPRESSION Rouzer, R-N.C., in outlining and that the NWPR should
not be withdrawn or vacated.
their concerns regarding the
In June, Ernst joined Sen.
EARLY ANALGESIA Biden administration’s in- Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and
CASTRATION tention to undo the Trump
Tensioned Loop administration’s Navigable Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind.
for Newborns Waters Protection Rule. in introducing the Define
SMART The members wrote, “With WOTUS Act, a bill to legis-
latively define the “waters of
DELAYED all the other crises confront- the United States.”
ing our nation it makes little
“Regulations
for
what
CASTRATION sense to unravel a final rule falls under ‘Waters of the
Since 1991
PRO that has taken decades of U.S.’ have ping-ponged back
agency action, litigation, and
and forth for years. Farmers
DELAYED legislation to settle.” and families need a reason-
CASTRATION However, if the Biden ad- able, practical definition for
Built-in Cutter ministration chooses to con- WOTUS, and that’s why Con-
Self-locking Loop tinue with its plans to rede- gress should do its job and
fine
WOTUS, the members define the law,” Braun says.
caution: “We are concerned feedstuffs.com
that the approach the agen-
Made In USA cies intend to take in revis-
ing this important regulation
will regress from the clarity
800-858-5974 CallicrateBanders.com provided by the Navigable
Waters Protection Rule and
