A potential rule on creeks and streams could—under the Clean Water Act (CWA)—require farmers to obtain permits necessary to continue to operate. Texas Farm Bureau President Kenneth Dierschke expressed concern before the House Science, Space and Technology Committee that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is overreaching its authority and impacting Texas farmers.
The EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently proposed a rule that defined the waters the groups intend to regulate under the CWA. Through this proposal, the agency implies that nearly all water is connected and EPA has authority to regulate those navigable waters.
“We believe the draft rule fails to comply with important regulatory safeguards and is based on a scientific report that has not had sufficient peer review,” Dierschke said. “The impact of this broad interpretation, if rolled into federal regulation, will mean more permits, additional permit requirements and government and environmental group scrutiny of the things we do in agriculture, and the threat of additional litigation against farmers and ranchers.”
For more information on Dierschke’s testimony, visit bit.ly/1isL5qF or bit.ly/1b2P5ym.