Farm groups including the American Farm Bureau are reacting negatively to the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed rule to replace the Navigable Waters Protection Rule. The proposed rule would re-establish the pre-2015 definition of “Waters of the U.S.”

South Dakota Farm Bureau President Scott VanderWal says his group is disappointed that the agency is returning to an “overly complicated” interim water rule.

He says it also represents government overreach and this creates major permit backlogs for the federal government, which results in long delays for farmers and ranchers working hard to keep America fed.

VanderWal says EPA is putting this language in place before completing the promised stakeholder engagement. So, they will be providing comments opposing it, as it moves forward.