Clean Water Act
EPA begins enforcing clean-water rule
The EPA began enforcing its clean-water rule in all states except the 13 that had sued to block it, The Hill reported.
U.S. judge blocks implementation of clear-water rule
U.S. District Judge Ralph Erickson issued a preliminary injunction against the EPA's so-called Waters of the United States rule one day before it was due to take effect, reports Agri-Pulse.
EPA chief on “ditch the myths” tour of Missouri
EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy is to visit a Rocheport, Mo, farm today and speak to the Kansas City Agribusiness Council on Thursday in defense of new clean water regulations. Farm groups loudly oppose the Waters of the United States proposal as a power grab. The EPA says the rule reflects a Supreme Court decision and does not expand its reach.
Senate panel approves bill to override clean-water rule
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved a bill to obviate the recently issued "waters of the United States" rule that defines the upstream reach of the Clean Water Act.
Biggest U.S. farm group steps up drive against water rule
The largest U.S. farm group says the EPA's proposed "waters of the United States" rule "is even worse than before." The six-million-member American Farm Bureau Federation released a lengthy analysis of the so-called WOTUS rule...
States file suit against “waters of United States” rule
Thirteen states filed suit in federal court in North Dakota against the "waters of the United States" rule that defines the upstream reach of the Clean Water Act, said Agri-Pulse.
Expect ethanol, clean-water rules this spring, says EPA chief
EPA administrator Gina McCarthy says the agency will issue rules this spring that set the ethanol mandate and define the upstream reach of clean-water laws, according to DTN, but she did not offer a specific date for the announcement.
Virginia nutrient-trading program is praised and panned
A nutrient trading program has saved the state of Virginia more than $1 million while constraining runoff of phosphorus, a fertilizer, into the Chesapeake Bay, said EPA.
EPA to issue Waters of United States rule despite controversy
EPA administrator Gina McCarthy said the agency will complete its Waters of the United States rule and is "still looking at spring" as the likely release date, says DTN.
Omnibus bill relaxes whole grain, salt rules for school food
Congress would relax rules that call for schools to use more whole grains and to reduce salt in meals provided to students, according to provisions of a government-wide funding bill. Unveiled on Tuesday night, the bill also calls for USDA to study the nutritional content of vegetables available in the so-called WIC program before removing any of them from the program - a response to complaints that white potatoes were being singled out unfairly.
Child nutrition rules “in play” as spending bill is written
During negotiations over a long-term spending bill, "(c)hild nutrition standards backed by First Lady Michelle Obama were in play," says Politico.
Toledo mayor asks federal action to prevent algae blooms
The government should give priority to protecting water quality in Lake Erie's watershed including a standard on blooms of toxic algae, said Toledo Mayor Michael Collins, four months after explosive growth of algae shut down his city's water supply. "If we continue to delay, the harm may be irreparable," Collins said during a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing on voluntary work by farmers to control soil erosion and protect water purity.
Algae blooms in Lake Erie put spotlight on agricultural runoff
The algae bloom that shut down Toledo's drinking-water supply for two days this summer has put the spotlight on agricultural runoff, although farmland is not the only source of the pollutants that cause the explosive growth of the cyanobacteria, says...
EPA extends comment period on Waters of United States rule
EPA extended the comment period on its clean water rule known as "Waters of the United States" until Nov 14; a three-week extension. Some 217,134 comments were filed as of Monday.
A deluge of comments falls on clean-water rule
The House passed a bill last week to stop EPA from finalizing the rule but the Democrat-run Senate is unlikely to consider such legislation this fall. Proponents say the regulation clarifies federal jurisdiction after two Supreme Court decisions. Farm groups call it a power grab.
House ignores veto threat, votes to stop clean water rule
The Republican-run House passed a bill to prevent the EPA from finalizing its "Waters of the United States" regulation, sending the bill to an uncertain future in the Senate during the brief pre-election session. "I doubt if (Majority Leader Harry) Reid is going to let something like that come up," said Sen Chuck Grassley, Iowa Republican. The White House, in a statement, threatened a veto if the bill reaches the president.
Clean water rule doesn’t cover most ag work-EPA chief
Normal agricultural activities are exempt from regulation under the Clean Water Act and the proposed "Waters of the United States" regulation won't change that, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy said. The rule, proposed in March, is opposed vocally in farm country. The American Farm Bureau Federation, for example, began a "ditch the rule" campaign out of concern of federal regulation of farm ditches.
US House panel votes to block clean water rule
The House Appropriations Committee voted to block EPA's proposed "waters of the United States" rule as part of a fiscal 2015 interior and environment spending bill. Members approved the bill on a mostly party-line vote of 29-19. "Republicans have derided the measure as a brazen power grab that could result in the EPA expanding its jurisdiction to ponds, trenches or even dry riverbeds," said The Hill newspaper.
Half of river water comes from intermittent streams, say researchers
As a result of the Supreme Court decision on the upstream reach of antipollution laws, half of the water in U.S. rivers comes from so-called ephemeral streams that are now without federal protection, said researchers from the University of Massachusetts and Yale on Thursday.