In a strong show of support for farmers in this state and their own taxpayers, 35 counties and 17 towns in New York have passed strongly worded resolutions asking the Environmental Protection Agency to withdrawal its proposal to expand the definition of Waters of the United States under the Clean Water Act (CWA).
New York Farm Bureau has challenged the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers on its proposed rule changes that we believe is an overreach of the CWA.
The confusing and vague language in the new definition opens up the potential for dry land and ditches to now be considered federally controlled waters. The bureaucratic nightmare and costly permitting process that this would create would not only impact agriculture across this state but also local taxpayers and homeowners who would be subject to additional federal regulations, permits and expensive fines.
In response, the large number of county and town resolutions opposing this effort has been forwarded to the EPA, which is accepting comments on the matter through Oct. 20.
New
York Farm Bureau has also released a new video highlighting the real
concerns farmers have about the EPA’s potential land grab. You may view
the video here:
http://youtu.be/s85XUF1QEvw
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