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Congressman: EPA ‘getting pushback’ on WOTUS proposal

Missouri Third District Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer adresses a Farm Bureau roundtable discussion on the EPA's Waters of the US proposal, Oct. 09, 2014.Missouri Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer says the EPA extended its comment period for their Waters of the U.S. rulemaking proposal because they’re getting pushback.

“If they come out with a ruling and make it hard and fast prior to election there will be a backlash,” the Third District Republican told Brownfield Ag News Thursday.  “It’s not just an isolated industry that this affects, it affects every single industry out there practically, if not directly, indirectly.”

The Congressman was part of a roundtable discussion Thursday at Missouri Farm Bureau headquarters among people largely opposed to the EPA proposal.  The Missouri Farm Bureau has led a campaign called Ditch the Rule, a reference to what the organization believes is EPA’s regulatory overreach.  President Blake Hurst says implementing the rule will affect many outdoor activities.

“Whether you’re building roads, building houses, or growing corn, this rule’s going to affect what you do,” Hurst told Brownfield, “and it’s a real concern for all the people that work outside and move dirt around.”

Another guest, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association environmental counsel Ashley McDonald says that despite that group’s best efforts, it may not be possible to change the EPA’s course.

“They’re pretty slim chances,” said McDonald, “the administrator’s been clear, her top officials have been very clear to us in meetings with cattle producers that she intends to see this through, so I ultimately think that they will finalize a rule and I don’t think they’re going to back down.”

With a map, McDonald illustrated the number of streams, wetlands and what she calls dry ditches and gullies that will be under EPA jurisdiction if the agency’s proposal is adopted.

AUDIO: Missouri Farm Bureau WOTUS discussion (60 min. MP3)

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