The Obama-era 2015 Waters of the U.S. Rule is now in effect in 26 states including Minnesota and Iowa. It’s on hold in 24 other states including South Dakota, Nebraska and North Dakota. That’s following an injunction issued by a federal judge in South Carolina. The judge says the EPA failed to follow the Administrative Procedures Act when finalizing its rule to delay the 2015 WOTUS for two years. Minnesota Farm Bureau President Kevin Paap says the ruling is a concern because it creates confusion.
He says the 2015 WOTUS regulation is unworkable and the EPA needs to fix it with a rewrite.
Paap says a good water quality rule is needed but it must meet the concern of farmers and ranchers as well as non ag interests.
The American Farm Bureau Federation is calling on the administration to complete its reconsideration of the 2015 rule and work to develop a new regulation to provide both clean water and clear rules.
