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House panel hears WOTUS concerns

The EPA’s proposed “Waters of the U.S.” rule came under heavy fire this week during a House Agriculture subcommittee hearing in Washington.

Among those testifying was Steve Foglesong, who raises livestock and crops on his farm in west-central Illinois. Fogelsong says his main concern is the rule’s lack of clarity.

“We hear about exemptions that are there but until we’ve seen it in print—and probably more importantly, seen it in action—we’re not going to understand exactly how it’s supposed to affect us,” Foglesong says.

Foglesong fears the WOTUS rule will force him to obtain federal permits to conduct everyday farming and ranching activities.

“I don’t have the time, don’t have the resources, and don’t want to have to chase all of that—and every farmer and rancher out there is in the same boat,” he says. “We’ve got plenty to do to try to provide food for a hungry world. We certainly don’t need to be spending most of our time dealing with paperwork.”

The EPA appears determined to finalize the rule, but Foglesong says it isn’t over yet.

“From their perspective, I think the train’s left the station. We’re just going to have to figure out how to get it derailed. I think the good folks in Congress understand our perspective and are going to try to help us do that.”

Foglesong is a past president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. He says NCBA and others in animal agriculture are calling on the EPA and the Army Corps to withdraw the rule and start over by soliciting more input from those who would be most impacted by the rule.