Agricultural organizations are celebrating the official repeal of a rule that they have been fighting since 2015 – Waters of the United States, better known as WOTUS. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler and Department of the Army Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works R.D. James announced that the agencies are repealing the rule and “recodifying the … Read More
Scott Pruitt Resigns From EPA
Well, here’s news that probably won’t upset too many people I know. I’m actually amazed that this didn’t happen much sooner. Of course this had to happen during a pretty much vacation week for the ZimmComm Team and many, many other folks. Here’s some industry reaction on the announcement. I think you can sum it up that everyone is pretty … Read More
Cattlemen Kick Off Campaign to Prevent Regulation
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) kicked off a media campaign aimed at spotlighting and correcting a recent court decision that will require livestock producers to comply with laws that are only meant to apply to highly toxic Superfund sites. The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) was enacted to provide for cleanup of the worst industrial chemical … Read More
Livestock Industry Calls for Relief from EPA’s Regulations
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the Public Lands Council (PLC) filed comments to the EPA calling for immediate action on several regulations the agency put forward under previous Administrations. The groups said that the regulations, “inhibit job creation, are ineffective, are unnecessary, or impose costs that exceed the environmental benefits. Often, these regulations impose federal requirements on cattle … Read More
EPA Admin Visits Missouri to Talk WOTUS & Energy
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt visited rural Missourians, April 20, 2017, at the Thomas Hill Energy Center in Clifton Hill, Mo. The Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives hosted the event, which also featured U.S. Senator Roy Blunt and all major agricultural organizations. “It is fitting that the farm and ranch families we represent stand alongside the rural electric … Read More
EPA Admin Visits with Cattlemen & Women
U.S. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt addressed cattlemen and women at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) annual legislative conference in Washington D.C. In his remarks, Administrator Pruitt said he is working to build a partnership between the agency and the men and women who serve as the stewards of our natural resources. “In Oklahoma, I saw first-hand that cattlemen care … Read More
EPA Now Limited On Farm Data It Can Release
A federal judge has approved a settlement agreement between the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) and the American Farm Bureau Federation and the EPA, limiting EPA’s release of information on livestock farmers. Under the agreement, the agency only may provide under a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request the city, county, zip code and Clean Water Act permit status of … Read More
Animal Ag Cheers Ditch of WOTUS
The animal agriculture community are smiles this week as they revel in the news about President Trump’s executive action regarding the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule ordering the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers to reconsider. John Starkey, president of U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY), said, “USPOULTRY is very pleased that the thousands of … Read More
Trump Sends WOTUS Back for Review
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday directing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to formally reconsider the controversial Waters of the United States, or WOTUS, rule under the Clean Water Act. “(This) is one of the rules most strongly opposed by farmers, ranchers and agricultural workers all across our land…it’s been a disaster,” said President Trump during the White … Read More
Beef, Pork Groups Congratulate Pruitt as EPA Admin
Groups representing the beef and pork industries released statements in response to the U.S. Senate’s confirmation of Scott Pruitt as EPA Administrator. Craig Uden, president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), said, “For far too long, the EPA has been a runaway bureaucracy largely out of touch with how its policies directly affect folks like cattle ranchers, who use … Read More