EPA Drops Water Runoff Appel

[Mike]

Good news for Ranchers & Farmers everywhere!!!

Last Friday, the Environmental Protection Agency decided to drop its appeal of an October 2013 Federal court ruling in favor a West Virginia farmer. EPA unsuccessfully tried to make the case that it has the power to regulate stormwater runoff from livestock or poultry farms, claiming the Clean Water Act allows it to make rules regarding "concentrated animal feeding operations." The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia ruled otherwise. Following last week's announcement, American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman said, "EPA knows its effort to regulate perfectly well-run farms cannot withstand legal scrutiny, and the agency doesn't quite know how to deal with that."

Earlier this month the House of Representatives passed legislation that explicitly prohibits the EPA from further expanding its authority under the Clean Water Act to cover anything but lakes, rivers and streams. That bill was sponsored by Rep. Steve Southerland of Florida.

 

[Brad S]

Mike, thanks for the link; this is a huge deal. The EPA is flying drones in eastern nebraska. I hope some western states can take the initiative to pass statutes that limit EPA intrusion.

 

[Mike]

Mike, thanks for the link; this is a huge deal. The EPA is flying drones in eastern nebraska. I hope some western states can take the initiative to pass statutes that limit EPA intrusion.

There is no love lost for either one, but frankly I don't know who is harder to deal with.....the EPA or the Army Corps of Engineers on water issues.

Both of the their bureaucratic tendencies & Regs tend to overlap and cause equal amounts of grief.