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NCBA: EPA unsure what injunction means

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A District Court Judge’s injunction has muddied EPA’s Clean Water Rule.

Colin Woodall, Vice President of Government Affairs for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) tells Brownfield that following last week’s injunction issued by a U.S. District Court Judge in North Dakota, stopping implementation of the Clean Water Rule, formerly Waters of the U.S. rule in 13 states, even the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency isn’t sure how to proceed.

“They made some very bold statements that they were going to enforce this particular issue immediately,” Woodall said. “But the problem is, the way they interpret things at headquarters is quite a bit different from what we have seen out of the Regional EPA offices, so they really know how to implement this.

Woodall says NCBA is working to get the injunction to apply to all 50 states.

“Because you can’t have EPA regulations that affect North Dakota differently from Ohio,” said Woodall. “It just does not work when you are talking about a national agency like EPA.”

Audio: Colin Woodall, V.P. Government Affairs, NCBA

In a statement requested by Brownfield, the EPA says the 13 states included in the injunction issued by the District Court of North Dakota on Friday are not subject to the new rule. In all other states, the rule was effective on August 28.

The statement also says the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers “are evaluating the orders and considering the next steps in the litigation.”

 

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