News Fresh Start for Clean Water and Clear Rules: A Victory for Farmers

Fresh Start for Clean Water and Clear Rules: A Victory for Farmers

Fresh Start for Clean Water and Clear Rules: A Victory for Farmers
September 12, 2019 |

By Debra Davis

The administration’s announcement of a fresh start for clean water and clear rules is victory for farmers and ranchers, according to the Alabama Farmers Federation.

“As farmers and ranchers, we share the goal of protecting the nation’s waters, but the 2015 Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule was unlawful and unworkable,” said Federation President Jimmy Parnell. “It made conservation more difficult and created huge liabilities for farmers.”

The administration’s announcement follows a multi-year effort by the American Farm Bureau, state Farm Bureaus and an array of allies to finalize a new rule that protects the nation’s waters and provides clear rules for states, farmers, ranchers and small businesses to follow.   

“No regulation is perfect, and no rule can accommodate every concern, but the 2015 rule was especially egregious,” Parnell said. “We are relieved to put it behind us. We are now working to ensure a fair and reasonable rule that protects our water and our ability to work and care for the land.”

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