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EPA’s water rule to take effect Aug. 28, 2015

The EPA’s Clean Water Rule will take effect August 28th.  On Friday, the agency published the rule in the Federal Register.  Legal challenges to the rule are expected. Politico reports Arkansas and Oklahoma may be the first states to file – but challenges are also likely from agriculture, manufacturing, energy and other groups.

Congressional efforts to try and stop the rule might not succeed given the threat of presidential veto.  The nation’s largest farmer organization, the American Farm Bureau, along with other ag groups, insist the new rule is too expansive and would have a detrimental effect on farming and ranching.

Steve Nelson, president of Nebraska Farm Bureau, says the new rule could be a “bureaucratic nightmare” for farmers.

“I fear that, potentially, we would just get bogged down in paperwork and regulatory issues to do everything that we do. And, so much of what we do on farms and ranches is time sensitive. Things need to be done on time and weather is a factor in that. I can see this being very problematic in that respect.”

The U.S. Senate and House have passed bills that would make the EPA rewrite the new rule with input from state and local governments. Both chambers have included provisions in Fiscal Year 2016 appropriations bills to stop funding for implementation.

AUDIO:  Ken Anderson interviews Steve Nelson (3:00 mp3):