News

WOTUS continues to be a challenge

Indiana Senator Joe Donnelly says lawmakers are keeping a close eye on the EPA’s Clean Water Rule, to make sure it isn’t twisted to harm America’s farmers and ranchers. “There’s a court decision that has put a hold on WOTUS,” he says.  “And on the Senate side we’re working constantly with our colleagues to get them to understand nobody wants cleaner water than the farmers that live there and the kids that live there.”

He says the rule, commonly referred to as Waters of the US (WOTUS), continues to be a challenge.

Donnelly tells Brownfield he wants a common sense solution.  “Use the wisdom of the farm community rather than some bureaucrat in Washington trying to tell us what to do,” he says.

He says Congress has drawn its battle lines.  “A number of legislators that would have made it a veto-proof number said ‘if they see bureaucrats trying to include things like farm ponds and ditches and others – they’d be out,” he says.  “They’ll stand with us at that point.”

The rule is currently stayed by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.