CAMP HILL, Pa. — Pennsylvania Farm Bureau (PFB) praised the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for providing a fresh start for clean water and clear rules by putting the 2015 Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule behind us.
“Pennsylvania farmers share the goal of protecting waterways in Pennsylvania and across the United States, but the 2015 WOTUS rule provided unprecedented regulatory authority to government agencies far beyond what Congress intended under the Clean Water Act,” said PFB President Rick Ebert. “The rule, which would have vastly increased the amount of farmland subject to oversight, was never truly implemented nationwide, because it was struck down by multiple court rulings, which determined the rule to be illegal.”
The announcement follows a multi-year effort by state Farm Bureaus, the American Farm Bureau Federation and a large group of other stakeholders, who want to finalize a new rule that protects the nation’s waters and provides clear rules for states, farmers and small businesses to follow.
“Farmers support commonsense regulations and play a leading role in protecting our nation’s wetlands,” added Ebert. “We are now shifting our attention to creating a fair and reasonable rule that not only protects our water, but also our ability to farm and care for the land.”
Pennsylvania Farm Bureau is the state’s largest farm organization, representing farms of every size and commodity across Pennsylvania.
–Pennsylvania Farm Bureau