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Ag groups seek clarification on air emissions reporting

Ag groups are attempting to clarify how livestock producers should handle new air emissions reporting requirements.

Allison Cooke, executive director of government affairs with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), says producers should sit tight until a federal court provides more direction.

“We’re telling people to hold on. We’re waiting for more information,” Cooke says. “It’s a very up-and-down, volatile topic and we’re trying to get more information so that people can be doing what they’re supposed to. But also we don’t want to have people reporting if they don’t have to, at this point.”

The EPA has asked the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals for a delay in the reporting requirement, which was scheduled to go into effect this week. That’s the same court that earlier struck down the EPA’s final rule which would have exempted livestock operations from the reporting requirement.

Cooke says Congress may have to act on the matter.

“We’re working with Congress through the appropriations process. That’s kind of the avenue we have right now,” she says. “But we’re not sure what the appropriations process looks like moving forward, so we’re going to continue to have those conversations on the Hill to let people know that this is a concern of ours.”

Cooke discussed this topic and other policy issues with Brownfield Thursday at the Nebraska Beef Summit in Lincoln.

AUDIO: Allison Cooke