AFBF Says No to Oberstar Bill
Organization highly concerned by proposed legislation to broaden authority of Clean Water Act.
Compiled by staff
Published: Apr 23, 2010
American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman says Farm Bureau does not support legislation that would change and expand federal control of the nation's waters. They are greatly concerned the 'America's Commitment to Clean Water Act,' introduced by Representative James Oberstar, D-Minn., would do precisely that. According to Stallman, the measure would change the Clean Water Act by extending federal control of all waters in the United States, not just real navigable waters, as Congress clearly intended when it passed the Clean Water Act in 1972.
"Farm Bureau has always supported the Clean Water Act as a vital tool for protecting our nation's valuable water resources," Stallman said. "This bill, however, goes farther by removing the word 'navigable' from the Clean Water Act. If the word 'navigable' is deleted from the law, any farm pond or ditch would be at the mercy of federal regulations. This vague and overreaching amendment to the Clean Water Act is unacceptable to America's farm and ranch families."
Stallman also says that Farm Bureau is deeply concerned the legislation will overturn the current treatment of prior converted cropland, a regulation that has been in place for nearly two decades. This would effectively give federal control of the development rights of 53 million acres of private land. Stallman called this extension of federal control over private property rights dangerous and unprecedented.
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Tagged: farm, Farm Bureau, Extension, American Farm Bureau Federation, ranch
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