Federal overreach returns with WOTUS rule

INDIANOLA, Neb. - Recently the Biden administration repealed a Trump-era action regarding how natural water sources in the United States are protected.  

American farmer groups argue that this rule will lead to increased federal scrutiny of how farmers and other landowners treat water sources on their property such as ravines and creeks.

The Environmental Protection Agency finalized the rule change, redefining which “waters of the U.S.” are federally protected under the clean water act.  The battle over how to define protected water sources stretch back to the Obama (Obummer) administration.  Trump reversed the rule and said water such as puddles, groundwater ditches, farm and stock watering ponds and waste treatment systems shouldn’t be regulated by the feds.

The EPA’s latest rule is a statement of federal overreach that ignores state authority to regulate intrastate water quality. 

The National Corn Growers Association has said they are in favor of protecting water sources, drainage and water features that are distant from permanent flowing tributaries and shouldn’t be subject to regulations.  The group also noted that the EPA decided to issue its rule ahead of a key Supreme Court case related to the issue called the Sackett Case.  The EPA rushed to get this revised prior to the end of the year instead of waiting for the Supreme Court ruling.  That is one of the many shady deals this administration has done to take control and power out of the hands of American taxpayers.  

The EPA has doubled down to create more complicated regulations that will impose a quagmire of regulatory uncertainty on large areas of private farmland and miles away from the nearest navigable water.  This could threaten the progress that has been made on natural resource management and make it more difficult for farmers and ranchers to ensure food security for American families.  Some farmers are already predicting more food shortages and greater price hikes in 2023.  How can anyone still believe this administration is working FOR the American people? 

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