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Farm Bureau pushing for reversal on WOTUS injunction

American Farm Bureau is calling for swift action to limit the impact on states where the 2015 Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) Rule has been reinstated.

AFBF senior director of regulatory relations Don Parrish says the decision by a district court in South Carolina to stop the Trump Administration’s rule delaying implementation of WOTUS is horrible for more than half the country.

“There’s clearly going to be disruptions in economic activity.  There’s going to be far-reaching and detrimental impacts on farmers, ranchers, (the) construction industry.  Anybody that’s kind of got to do something with the environment with a shovel or plow.”

The preliminary injunction means the WOTUS Rule is now in effect in 26 states including Iowa, Illinois, Ohio, Minnesota, Michigan.

Parrish tells Brownfield AFBF and others are asking the South Carolina judge to reconsider implementing a rule they say is illegal.

“And then ultimately appeal to his circuit, which is the Fourth Circuit.  There’s also the option of going to some of these district court judges that have already provided for stays in 24 states.”

Farm Bureau is aggressively pursuing a nationwide stay on WOTUS, but Parrish says the Rule is complicated and it could take several months.

President Trump’s suspension rule would’ve given the EPA until 2020 to complete a rewrite of WOTUS.