NCBA strongly supports amendment to block funding to regulate dust

On Feb. 17, 2011 the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association sent a letter to first-term U.S. Representative Kristi Noem (R-SD) in support of her amendment to H.R. 1, a resolution to fund the federal government through the end of this fiscal year. Representative Noem’s amendment would block any funds from being used by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to modify the national primary ambient air quality standard or the national secondary ambient air quality standard applicable to coarse particulate matter (dust). NCBA President Bill Donald said last summer EPA laid the foundation to regulate dust at the unprecedented level of 65-85 ug/m3, which is essentially twice as stringent as the current standard. He said if EPA moves forward with a proposed rule later this year, vast rural and agricultural areas of the West and Midwest would be put into nonattainment and farmers and ranchers could be fined for everyday activities ranging from tilling soil, moving cattle, driving on unpaved roads or planting and harvesting crops...more