Statement from the Farm Bureau on the Reversal of Navigable Waters Rule
The following is a statement from Illinois Farm Bureau President Richard Guebert, Jr., regarding the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers announcement of their intention to reverse the Navigable Waters Protection Rule.
“Illinois Farm Bureau is extremely disappointed that the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers have announced their intention to reverse the Navigable Waters Protection Rule, a rule that was hailed by farmers just one year ago for the clarity and common-sense oversight it brought to clean water efforts.
“Illinois farmers are counting on Administrator Regan to uphold his pledge that there will not be a return to the overreaching regulations found in the 2015 Waters of the U.S. Rule. The pendulum swing of federal clean water regulation leads to tremendous uncertainty. Continuous change brings zero benefit to farmers and landowners, the regulated community, environmentalists, politicians, or – most importantly – the environment.
“Clean water is a top priority for Illinois farmers. Our members must be able to make sense of set regulations so they can farm with clarity and confidence as they push forward on stewardship efforts. We must see EPA create an enduring definition of WOTUS that stops the pendulum swing from administration to administration – and includes stakeholder input from those working the land each day. We have extended an invitation to current EPA and Army Corps of Engineers leadership to visit Illinois to see the issues firsthand, and again extend that invitation for critical stakeholder engagement.”
As the county’s largest general farm organization, Cook County Farm Bureau® is dedicated to bridging the gap between farmers and urban consumers. Through education programs targeting youth and their parents and programs designed to connect farmers with potential consumers, Farm Bureau members are actively engaging in conversations about food and the shared values between farmers and consumers.