Posted on 07/08/2014 6:48:14 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) chief is traveling to Missouri this week to promote among farmers the agency’s proposal to redefine its jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act.
The agency has faced some of the harshest backlash to the rule from agricultural representatives, who say that farmers will either have to obtain permits or be outright banned from common farming practices like digging ditches or building fences.
“One of the top priorities of mine is to make sure that we hear and listen to the voices of farmers and ranchers and make sure that their interests and concerns are reflected in the work that we do,” EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy told reporters Tuesday. The EPA unveiled the “Waters of the United States” rule in March in an attempt to clarify which bodies of water it can regulate, requiring certain permits or prohibiting certain practices that might harm the water. Hundreds of lawmakers — mostly Republicans — have joined a wide range of business interests in fighting the rule and calling it a massive “land grab.”
But McCarthy told reporters that much of the opposition to the rule relies on myths.
“Unfortunately, I think there’s a growing list of misunderstandings that have been floating around,” she said. “And so part of the reason to go down to Missouri is to clarify those issues and to try to knock down some of the misunderstandings.”
McCarthy will visit a farm operated by Bill Heffernan in an attempt to understand how common farming practices and conservation can fit into the EPA’s goals of protecting water. She will also speak at an agricultural meeting in Kansas City, conduct interviews with agricultural media and speak with farmers in other settings.
McCarthy acknowledged that some farmers and others have real problems with the rule
“While there are some legitimate concerns out there with the rule and many issues that we teed up ourselves in the rule to try to seek comment, we’re hearing some concerns that really are, to put frankly, they’re ludacris,” she said.
“Some people say that EPA is going to be regulating small, unconnected waters, including puddles on lawns, driveways and playgrounds. Now, that’s just silly.”
McCarthy said she has heard people say the EPA will regulate ditches and groundwater, and require permits for cows to cross streams. None of those are true, she said.
She said her agency would work with farmers to address their legitimate concerns, but she did not say whether that would involve changes to the proposal.
Apart from the Missouri tour, the EPA’s regional offices are holding outreach events to agriculture throughout the summer, EPA spokeswoman Liz Purchia said. Officials in EPA’s water office are also conducting an outreach tour, with upcoming stops in Texas, Wisconsin and Arizona.
The EPA is gathering comments from the public on the proposal until October.
For the list.
Time to eliminate the EPA
Here is a truth for McCarthy and not a myth, Eff you and be careful where you go, we can still dig holes. Count yourself lucky if you don’t fall in one and get back to DC.
Myths, she says. It is always incremental. The EPA is not constitutionally authorized to make “regulations,” laws by another name. This agency must be abolished. It only exists to further its own existence.
all the farmers need to show up heavily armed with extra ammo.
not kidding.
“While there are some legitimate concerns out there with the rule and many issues that we teed up ourselves in the rule to try to seek comment, we’re hearing some concerns that really are, to put frankly, they’re ludacris,” she said.
It’s Ludacris, eh? It’s a popular rapper? Perhaps the author meant ludicrous.
In either case, reality says this woman is lying as the EPA HAS gone to “Ludacris” lengths in the recent past in an effort to grab land. If anything is “Ludacris”, it’s believing the EPA ISNT involved in land grab after land grab.
Wasn't that long ago they'd have said it was "silly" to think they be regulating CO2.
Communists raised on bottled water telling farmers how to irrigate.
What could go wrong?
Taking her asinine comments into context, it makes no difference what the public has to say about their proposal, they’ve made up their minds and they will impose this unconstitutional nonsense upon the public.
The ONLY way to end this madness is to make the EPA fear the citizens of this country no matter what it takes. Congress is not going to lift a finger to stop them, so it is up to us to take the matter into our own hands and lay down the law.
Otherwise, just bitch and moan about it and let them have their way, as usual.
We have a Bill of Rights which in theory protect us from the “three coequal branches of government”.
There is no Bill of Rights, no law, no constitution that protects you from the regulator. They are congress’, the executive’s, the judiciary’s end run around the Constitution. There is not the slightest intent in Washington to ever limit their power.
Watch this video. Saw it on TV yesterday.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9U0OqJqNbbs
That’s Enough - (”Let it Go” Parody)
All the property in the US belongs to the US feral government. We own it. We just allow you to infest it. For now.
The nazis at the EPA have been shot down twice by the USSC in SWANCC v US and Rapanos v US.
The rule of law no longer exists for the fascists occupying DC. The rule of law should not exist when confronting the DC fascists.
“Some people say that EPA is going to be regulating small, unconnected waters, including puddles on lawns, driveways and playgrounds. Now, that’s just silly.”
That comes next week.
Congress is NOT going to stop these liberal college kids from destroying this country because the Congress people are secure in their careers and don't want to rock the boat. It is high time for term limits for representatives and senators. Further, it is close to time for a pitchfork march on Washington DC....
Hey Gina: YOU LIE!
The EPA needs its jurisdiction redefined right out of existence!
bump
“McCarthy said she has heard people say the EPA will regulate ditches and groundwater, and require permits for cows to cross streams. None of those are true, she said.”
This is a boldfaced lie. The EPA seeks to control all water that flows into “navigable waters”, which include all drainage ditches. The northern third of Iowa is only farmable because of the massive drainage ditch system. I’m sure some epaer is planning how to turn that farmland into its original state by controlling those ditches.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.