EPA’s proposed Clean Water Act Rule is getting low marks from a National Cattle Organization. NCBA officials say the proposal doesn’t clarify what waters of the United States should be regulated but confuses the issue. National Cattlemen Beef Association’s Environmental Counsel Ashley McDonald says it doesn’t make sense for EPA to say they’ve simplified the issue when the proposed rule is 371 pages. She says EPA also doesn’t explain very well what ditches are regulated on ag land.
McDonald says EPA has expanded its regulatory authority under the proposal and now will require producers to get permits just to complete normal practices on their operations.
She says EPA’s planned rule also subjects producers to spill prevention control and counter measure rules as well as CWA regulations.
McDonald says NCBA will submit comments opposing the proposed rule.
