EPA Regulation Overreach Will Hurt Farmers – Farm Bureau

A potential rule that significantly expands Clean Water Act jurisdiction could require farmers to obtain permits necessary to continue to operate, reports the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF). Farm Bureau leadership expressed concern that the Environmental Protection Agency is overreaching its authority and negatively affecting America’s farmers.

The EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are likely to propose a rule that significantly expands the definition of waters the groups intend to regulate under the CWA. Through draft guidance and from a document leaked to the press, the agency implies that nearly all water is connected and the EPA has authority to regulate all waters as the agency would “navigable” waters, according to a member of the AFBF’s board of directors.