Agricultural News
Missouri Cattlemen Urges Agencies to Withdraw Water Rule
Mon, 10 Nov 2014 15:12:01 CST
The Missouri Cattlemen's Association (MCA) Monday submitted comments to the Environmental Protection (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) regarding the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) proposal. MCA made clear on behalf of its members that private property rights of Missouri landowners should not be eroded, which will be a consequence if the agencies' proposed rule is allowed to move forward, according to MCA President Jim McCann.
"This proposed rule is blatant government overreach. This is nothing more than a pervasive invasion of private property rights," said McCann. "It is clear that bureaucrats in Washington, D.C., see the need to declare themselves ruler of every drop of water and piece of private property in this country. The agencies need to listen to the outcry of property owners in this country and withdraw this invasive, bureaucratic rule immediately."
MCA Executive Vice President Mike Deering asserts that the WOTUS proposal vastly expands the agencies' jurisdiction and attempts to regulate all land uses.
"The agencies' proposal throws private property rights to the curb and clearly violates Supreme Court precedent by subjecting nearly all water to scientifically unfounded regulation," said Deering. "The intentional use of very broad and vague language in this proposal makes clear that the government's intent is to subject landowners to limitless regulation. This nonsense cannot possibly be supported by the Clean Water Act or the U.S. Constitution."
Deering said this rule would throw nearly 80,000 additional Missouri stream miles under the regulatory authority of EPA and the Corps. He said the expansion of regulatory authority does not stop with water.
"Logic and commonsense tells us the surrounding land will also be regulated more than ever before. This rule just continues this administration's regulatory rampage and enough is enough," said Deering. "Farmers and ranchers are not confused and are well aware of this administration's blatant attempt to control every drop of water and every piece of private land in this country."
The comment period on the WOTUS proposal concludes Friday, November 14, 2014. McCann encourages all MCA members and landowners to submit comments. Comments can be easily submitted via the National Cattlemen's Beef Association website.
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