Agricultural News
NCBA Finds Allies in Litigation to Fight Clean Water Rule, Urges Congressional Action
Tue, 28 Jul 2015 12:06:34 CDT
The National Cattlemen's Beef Association is trying to stop the 'Waters of the United States' or Clean Water Rule from being implemented. NCBA has been fighting 'WOTUS' on Capitol Hill and they have also filed lawsuits to stop the regulation from being implemented in August. Speaking at the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Convention, NCBA Executive Director of Legislative Affairs Kristina Butts said they are attacking this regulation on multiple fronts.
In June, there was hope that the U.S. House would take up the interior appropriations bill that would not allow the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to enforce the final 'WOTUS' rule. Butts said unfortunately that bill was pulled from the floor, so now negotiations are taking place on a spending bill beyond this fiscal year. She said there is also standalone legislation that has passed the House, and opponents to the Clean Water Rule are looking for similar opportunities in the Senate to move that legislation forward, but time is quickly passing by. After the August recess, Butts said there are only eight to ten days that Congress will be back in session before the end of the fiscal year.
"We really need to move forward on the 'WOTUS' front sooner rather than later," Butts said. "And again it's the Senate, looking for opportunities there to move that forward in the Senate."
NCBA is also involved with in litigation with EPA and Army Corps of Engineers. NCBA has joined a broad coalition to stop the implementation of this rule. NCBA has been joined by the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Pork Producers Council and Public Lands Council, along with other producer and land use groups in filing litigation. The coalition has filed a complaint in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas against the EPA and Army Corps over the 'WOTUS' final rule. Butts said obviously this tactic will require many years and thousands of dollars.
Other lawsuits have been filed against EPA and Army Corps by several Attorney Generals as well as other industries outside of agriculture. Butts said that shows the reach and scope of this rule. Because the Clean Water rule touches everyone, she said that has made it easy to get people engaged in fighting the rule before it can be implemented.
Radio Oklahoma Network Farm Director Ron Hays featured Kristina Butts on the Beef Buzz feature. Click or tap on the LISTEN BAR below to listen to today's Beef Buzz.
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network- but is also a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR below for today's show- and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
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