Friday, August 22, 2014

Clash over water rules

Farmers and ranchers in Wasco County are concerned that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is attempting to gain more control over agricultural practices and private property rights. “EPA is setting the stage to increase their authority over our operations,” said Keith Nantz, president of the North Central Livestock Association, which serves Wasco and Sherman counties. “This proposed rule leaves the door open for that to happen. If it goes through, the federal government will have jurisdiction over any area where water collects for only a short time, including some small ponds, ditches and even fields that are wet only when it rains.” Nantz, a Maupin rancher, is seated on the water committee of the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association. He said the expanded definition of “Waters of the U.S.” in the Clean Water Act includes waters that join tributaries, adjacent waters or those that connect to waterways already under federal jurisdiction. If EPA has its way, Nantz said ranchers face significant fines for normal ranching activities, including pest control, plowing, planting, fertilizing, moving cattle, building fences and other activities. Mike Freese, an attorney who serves as director of regulatory affairs for the Oregon Farm Bureau, said the reach of EPA will go far beyond agriculture if the new rule is finalized this fall. “This is also going to affect counties, cities, homebuilders and land use anywhere near a waterway,” he said. The significance of the regulatory expansion, said Freese, is that farmers, ranchers and landowners will need federal permission to do any activity that may affect protected waters, or face civil penalties of $37,000 per day for each violation. more 

“As a result, the Clean Water Act will become a land management tool for federal agencies,” Freese said.
Read that sentence over and over again because Freese is right.  Its about controlling land use, not water quality.

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