NCBA Supports Measure to Stop Clean Water Act Manipulation

The legislation introduced Friday to prevent the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers from using their clean water guidance to expand the regulatory regime under the Clean Water Act has the support of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and the Public Lands Council. According to NCBA President J.D. Alexander - the Administration has used guidance documents as opposed to going through the rulemaking process - which allows government officials to bypass the consideration of legal, economic and unintended consequences. While the guidance claims to provide clarity and certainty to landowners - PLC President John Falen says the only thing livestock producers can be clear and certain about if the guidance is finalized is more federal regulation and costly permits.

Despite three Supreme Court rulings and a letter from 170 members of Congress opposing the guidance - Alexander says EPA and the Corps have crowned themselves kings of every drop of water in the country. He says the bill introduced by the leaders of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Agriculture Committee is the best path forward in preventing the guidance from becoming reality.

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