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Clean Water Act will adversely affect agriculture
Published 12:00pm Wednesday, November 28, 2007H.R. 2421 Clean Water Act amendments will directly impact agriculture and other landowners in a variety of ways. Please consider the following:
The Clean Water Act has been a most successful and comprehensive environmental law. However, redefining the terms Waters of the United States by removing the word “navigable” and extending governmental legislation to include all “activities affecting these waters” will create the potential to restrict America’s farmers, ranchers and other landowners’ property rights.
Moving all regulatory action to the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers would be necessary if they receive jurisdiction over “intrastate” waters, too. How will these oversights of regulations affect current state and local jurisdictions? We foresee unfunded mandates on the state and local levels. This will intensify the current federal backlog of permitting and intensify state and local regulations above their current status. We already must meet regulations concerning items such as Total Daily Management Loads (TMDLs), crop protection products, and wetlands management.
Farmers and ranchers are conscientious stewards of the land. They are sensitive of the soil, air and water because proper care yields positive rewards for their business and the environment.
If enacted, we could be required to have more permits that would greatly increase costs and delay timely agricultural practices. This would affect America’s safe, affordable and abundant food supply.
Please do not support this legislation. It would become a cumbersome and expensive endeavor that is overkill and unnecessary. It will produce negative consequences. Contact Rep. Collin Peterson to stop trying to redefine Waters of the United States and extending governmental regulation.
