Environmental group representatives have been pushing EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and his agency to tighten Clean Water Act requirements on concentrated animal feeding operations or CAFOs. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Environmental Counsel Scott Yager says the rules they’re pushing for have already failed in the courts.

The environmental groups want all CAFOs regulated as pollution point sources including the spreading of manure on fields and runoff from CAFO areas. They also want the Clean Water Act ag exemption for storm water damages taken away. Iowa Cattlemen’s Association President Mike Cline says producers are being environmentally responsible and are already over-regulated.

Yager says forced regulations don’t work and the environmental groups need to partner with agriculture in finding solutions.

The environmental organizations want the EPA to formulate new CAFO rules.