NPPC has asked a federal court to allow them a seat at the table in a lawsuit brought by environmental group’s against EPA over water quality standards in the Mississippi River Basin.  NPPC Chief Environmental Counsel Michael (for-meek-uh) Formica says EPA actually wanted the environmental groups to sue them so they’d be forced to regulate agriculture in the basin that covers 31 states.

Formica says NPPC also wants to stop the environmental groups from forcing EPA to require Total Maximum Daily Loads for nutrient standards. He says if that’s allowed it could lead to EPA determining who can farm or who can raise livestock and who can’t.

Formica says once all the legal briefings are filed that it will take at least a year and a half to settle the case.