A federal court order shows arguments on the merits of a lawsuit against the Waters of the U.S. rule will likely be scheduled beyond February of next year. This week an order from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit appears to keep the stay in place blocking the rule through that time. That type of delay is not surprising to South Dakota Cattlemen’s President Todd Wilkinson.
He says if the WOTUS rule is allowed to go into effect it’ll cause economic harm to most sectors of the economy.
Wilkinson says for agriculture the WOTUS rule is so far reaching it will keep ranchers from doing what’s considered normal activities and abnormally expand the powers of the federal government.
Agriculture groups and others challenging the WOTUS regulation will be required to file legal briefs by September 30 of this year and the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers are required to respond by November 30 of this year.
