Corn Growers to EPA: slow down “Waters of the US” roll-out
In Washington, the National Corn Growers Association has caled on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s final rule on “Waters of the U.S.” The NCGA’s concerns were exacerbated when it became known that the Corps of Engineers, which had been partnering with EPA in the process, expressed significant reservations on the science and legality of the rule.
“Corps data to EPA has been selectively applied out of context, and mixes terminology and disparate data sets,” a May 15, 2015 internal memo states. “In the Corps judgement, these documents contain numerous inappropriate assumptions with no connection to the data provided, misapplied data, analytical deficiencies and logical inconsistencies…The rule’s contradictions with legal principles generate multiple legal and technical consequences that in the view of the Corps would be fatal to the rule in its current form.”
“In July, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy came to our meeting in Washington and made certain assurances that no new risks are created by the rule,” NCGA President Chip Bowling said. “We have since become convinced that these assurances are based on an inaccurate reading of the rule, the preamble, and the recent applicable field record of her agency’s own actions on these issues.”
“Our concerns are exacerbated by the fact that the Agencies’ field staff have yet to develop a shared understanding of the rule and how it will be implemented,” the letter states. “Furthermore, the Agencies’ leadership and field staff have yet to develop with farmers a similar understanding of their responsibilities under the Clean Water Act in light of this rule.”
Category: Policy
