Cotton group welcomes deregulation in waters rule
28/01/2020
The 2015 Waters of the United States rule, put into place by the Obama administration, placed limits on chemicals used near streams, wetlands and other bodies of water. Under Trump appointee Andrew Wheeler, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) repealed this measure last September.
The new version lightens regulations while removing pollution controls on streams and wetlands.
“EPA and the Army are providing much needed regulatory certainty and predictability for American farmers, landowners and businesses to support the economy and accelerate critical infrastructure projects,” said Mr Wheeler.
NCC Chairman Mike Tate said: “This final rule removes many elements from federal control that were initiated in the previous administration. That includes features that contain water only in response to rainfall, groundwater, many farm and roadside ditches, prior converted cropland and stock watering ponds.”
Mr Tate, who is a cotton producer from Alabama, said that the NCC has worked “tirelessly” for this rule, as it aims to restore power to states for controlling their own waters and their local land use and zoning issues.
The NCC will continue to monitor the rule’s implementation.
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