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NCBA issues another warning on WOTUS impact

Despite EPA’s assurances to the contrary, a top officer of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association remains convinced the proposed Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule would greatly expand the scope of the Clean Water Act.

NCBA treasurer and Oklahoma cattleman Richard Gebhart, who is also an attorney, says he has read though the WOTUS rule multiple times—and  says he is “shocked” by the overreach of the proposal.

“EPA consistently tells us, in our conversations with them, that is not their intent to regulate all lands,” Gebhart says. “But when I read this rule, I see no way out of it—it gives them the authority to regulate all lands.”

Gebhart says the proposed regulation would expand the federal government’s jurisdiction over ponds, ditches, isolated wetlands, ephemeral streams and more.

“In my legal opinion, they’re all within the reach of this rule,” Gebhart says, “because no matter where they drain, they’re going to drain into something that’s going to drain into something else that’s going to eventually—if you’re between the two mountain ranges—get to the Mississippi.

“Except for some exceptions in the northern part of the United States, all of them get to the Gulf of Mexico.”

Gebhart urges concerned cattlemen and others to submit a comment on the proposed rule by going to NCBA website, beefusa.org.  The comment period ends October 20th.