Ag News Monday July 6, 2015

The American Farm Bureau, along with other agriculture and industry groups on Thursday, asked a federal court to vacate the controversial new rule redefining the scope of federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act.

The lawsuit, filed in federal district court in Texas, claims the new rule grants EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers broad control over land use far beyond what Congress authorized in the Clean Water Act. At issue is the Waters of the U.S. rule that is slated to become law next month. Still, AFBF President Bob Stallman said “lawsuit or no lawsuit, we need Congress to act.”

Joining the lawsuit includes AFBF, the American Petroleum Institute, American Road and Transportation Builders, Leading Builders of America, National Alliance of Forest Owners, National Association of Home Builders, National Association of Manufacturers, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Mining Association, National Pork Producers Council and Public Lands Council.

More and more lawsuits are being filed against the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers Clean Water Rule, known as Waters of the U.S. The Hill reports Coal giant Murray Energy Corp. is suing the Obama administration over its rule asserting power over small bodies of water. Murray said the rule is an example of “regulatory creep” and an unjust expansion of the EPA’s power to regulate water in light of Supreme Court decisions against other EPA rules. American Farm Bureau announced its lawsuit along with 11 other industry groups Thursday. 27 states in two separate lawsuits are also challenging the rule which is set to become law August 28th.

Source:  NAFB News