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Hurst on WOTUS injunction

EPA's Gina McCarthy says this water left in channel on Bill Heffernan's upland Missouri farmland won't be regulated

Missouri Farm Bureau President Blake Hurst says he’s pleased Missouri farmers won’t have to comply with the EPA’s Waters of the US rule which goes into effect today because of the injunction granted in North Dakota. BUT, he’s disappointed the EPA has decided not to apply the injunction to all 50 states.

Hurst says, “So, the question becomes, do we call the Corps and ask for determination? Do we call the Corps and ask every time we do something – say, look, now that you’ve determined, we’ve had you out here, you say this IS a water of the U.S. Are we able to do this, are we able to do that? I mean, it becomes a REAL problem for farmers.”

Hurst tells Brownfield Ag News it becomes a real liability for farmers subject to the rule, “Is an EPA inspector going to show up on your farm next week? Probably not. Are you now more liable than you were yesterday? Are you now more vulnerable that you were yesterday? Absolutely.”

Hurst says the injunction IS a positive step, “Everybody that’s looked at this thing has decided it’s a bad idea. It’s time for the EPA to change their mind.”

Farmers in Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and 10 other states who sued the EPA to block the WOTUS rule will not have to comply while the injunction is in place.

Iowa and Illinois are not a party to any of the WOTUS/EPA lawsuits. Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner says he’s in talks with other states. He told Brownfield at the 2015 Illinois State Fair,  “We’ll coordinate our efforts and we’ll start to take action as we understand all the issues.” Iowa’s Attorney General says he’s taking a wait-and-see approach.

AUDIO:  Interview with Blake Hurst (4:00 mp3) :

AUDIO:  Interview with Governor Bruce Rauner (1:00 mp3):

 

 

 

 

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