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AFBF: Maps show worse effect of final WOTUS rule

The American Farm Bureau (AFBF) has released maps showing the reach of the Waters of the U.S. rule, now called the Clean Water Rule by the EPA. On average, it shows 95% of the acreage in Montana, Pennsylvania, Missouri and Virginia would be subject to regulation. Farm Bureau economist Veronica Nigh tells Brownfield that’s much more acreage than was previously proposed, “We think it’s quite a bit worse, actually, than the proposed rule and that it’s significantly more expansive than EPA is letting on.”

American Farm Bureau General Counsel Ellen Steen says the maps are done in three layers, the first one showing the impact from the previous rule,“And then we show the next map that adds newly regulated so-called tributaries. And, then we show some expanding zones of regulation that move out from these newly regulated ephemeral tributaries.”

Steen adds, “It’s going to be a lot of farmers that will have these features running across their farm fields, and they’re going to have to avoid them or else face the risk of a Clean Water Act violation and penalties.”

Other maps are in the works for New York, Oklahoma and Wisconsin. The Missouri map will be released this Thursday at the Missouri State Fair. The maps are prepared by Geosyntec Consulting.  The AFBF is suing to stop the rule, scheduled to go into effect August 28th.  www.fb.org