Two anti-agriculture billboards in Washington state have been voluntarily removed after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a statement saying the media campaign was an inappropriate use of federal funds. The EPA said the funds were awarded to the Swinomish Indian tribe for public education.
The What’s Upstream media campaign was a collaborative effort between several environmental groups and the Swinomish Indian tribe to gain political support to impose more regulations on agriculture.
According to Capital Press, the tribe has funded the campaign with nearly $600,000 the EPA awarded the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission.
The Swinomish tribe environmental policy director defends their campaign saying they used their own funds on the billboards.
“There has been no violation, but because of the concerns EPA has raised, we’re being responsive until their concerns are addressed,” Larry Wasserman, Swinomish Indian tribe Environmental Policy director, told Capital Press.
The EPA said the billboards should have noted the EPA’s financial support but did not violate prohibitions on using federal funds for lobbying.
Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts issued a statement condemning the billboards and the EPA for funding the campaign.
According to Wasserman, the tribe has no plans to remove the What’s Upstream website.