Agricultural News
American Farm Bureau Federation Urges Congress to Move on Dust Regulations
Tue, 06 Dec 2011 09:30:41 CST
The American Farm Bureau Federation is urging congressional members to pass H.R. 1633, the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act, when it comes before the full House later this week. In a letter to House members, AFBF said the legislation would limit the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to regulate naturally occurring dust, or "nuisance dust."
"Naturally occurring dust is a fact of life in rural areas," said AFBF President Bob Stallman. "It is raised by such normal activities as driving on unpaved roads and is composed of soil and organic material. The amount of dust in the air depends on wind and rainfall, two conditions that EPA cannot regulate."
AFBF went further to say that EPA has admitted that it cannot conclusively establish a link between "nuisance dust" and adverse human health effects.
"EPA admits there are limitations to the studies it cites, which casts doubt on its validity to support additional regulation," said Stallman. "Should such a link be established, the bill would allow EPA to regulate."
While EPA has said it does not intend to propose stricter regulations on dust, AFBF said that still does not provide much needed assurance for farmers and ranchers, especially when final rules often differ from proposed rules and lawsuits are a dime a dozen.
"Legislation is the best way to provide certainty to farmers, ranchers and rural America that their activities will not be unduly regulated by conditions beyond their control and for substances for which adverse health effects cannot be truly established," said Stallman.
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