Thirteen Democratic senators asked the administration to quell concerns in farm country about what is covered by the so-called Waters of the United States rule. The rule, proposed earlier this year, is viewed by some farm groups as a power grab that could spell federal oversight of ditches that are dry most of the time. The EPA says there is no change in jurisdiction. In a letter to administration leaders, the senators, who include four committee chairs, say that “given the many uncertainties…we request that you reach out to stakeholders, both small and large, to better understand their concerns.”
The senators say “we would like clarification” in six areas, ranging from whether the rule opens the door to so-called citizen lawsuits against farmers and if ditches in fields in flood plains would be subject to the rule. The letter says farm operators wonder if the EPA, by exempting 56 conservation practices from the rule, would require farmers to get a clean-water permit for other soil and water conservation activities.
The 6-million member American Farm Bureau Federation is running a “ditch the rule”campaign on social media. The EPA has a “ditch the myth” link on its Web site about the rule.