BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — The following is a statement from Illinois Farm Bureau President Richard Guebert Jr. regarding the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers announcement of their intention to reverse the Navigable Waters Protection Rule.
“Illinois Farm Bureau is extremely disappointed that the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers have announced their intention to reverse the Navigable Waters Protection Rule, a rule that was hailed by farmers just one year ago for the clarity and common-sense oversight it brought to clean water efforts.
“Illinois farmers are counting on Administrator Regan to uphold his pledge that there will not be a return to the overreaching regulations found in the 2015 Waters of the U.S. Rule. The pendulum swing of federal clean water regulation leads to tremendous uncertainty. Continuous change brings zero benefit to farmers and landowners, the regulated community, environmentalists, politicians, or – most importantly – the environment.
“Clean water is a top priority for Illinois farmers. Our members must be able to make sense of set regulations so they can farm with clarity and confidence as they push forward on stewardship efforts. We must see EPA create an enduring definition of WOTUS that stops the pendulum swing from administration to administration – and includes stakeholder input from those working the land each day. We have extended an invitation to current EPA and Army Corps of Engineers leadership to visit Illinois to see the issues firsthand, and again extend that invitation for critical stakeholder engagement.”
The Illinois Farm Bureau is a member of the American Farm Bureau Federation, a national organization of farmers and ranchers. Founded in 1916, IFB is a non-profit, membership organization directed by farmers who join through their county Farm Bureau. IFB has a total membership of more than 378,237 and a voting membership of 77,909. IFB represents three out of four Illinois farmers.
— Illinois Farm Bureau
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