Farm Bureau, the National Corn Growers Association, and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association are among 17 groups who have filed a legal challenge against the new Waters of the United States rule that was published in the Federal Register Wednesday by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers.
Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall says, ““Farmers and ranchers share the goal of protecting the resources we’re entrusted with. Clean water is important to all of us. Unfortunately, the new WOTUS rule once again gives the federal government sweeping authority over private lands. This isn’t what clean water regulations were intended to do. Farmers and ranchers should not have to hire a team of lawyers and consultants to determine how we can farm our land.”
Duvall adds that the new rule is “vague and creates uncertainty for America’s farmers, even if they’re miles from the nearest navigable water.”
The groups filing suit don’t just represent agriculture. Infrastructure and housing groups like the National Association of Realtors, the National Association of Home Builders, and the Public Lands Council.
In addition to Farm Bureau, NCGA, and NCBA, other ag groups signing on to the legal filing are the National Pork Producers Council and the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association, as well as other county and state Farm Bureau organizations.
You can read the lawsuit here.
