The Environmental Protection Agency has extended the public comment period on their proposal to rescind the Waters of the U.S. rule. The original deadline was August 28 but now has been moved to September 27. Nebraska Farm Bureau National Affairs Coordinator Jordan Dux says that’s a positive decision.

He says having the extension gives his group time to point out to the agency how problematic the original WOTUS was and how it needs to be done away with.

Dux says once WOTUS is rescinded the next step will be to rewrite the rule and that needs to be approached carefully.

In developing the replacement for WOTUS as part of a two step process, the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are consulting with state and local government officials or their representative national groups to gather input.