Last year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it had finalized the Clean Water Rule, a rule intended to clarify the scope of the agency’s jurisdiction over the “waters of the U.S.” under the Clean Water Act (CWA). The rule, which has significant benefits for agriculture, clean water, and public health, went into […]
Clean Water Act
Clean Water Rule Escapes Shutdown in Senate
By voting down an amendment yesterday, April 22, that would have halted the implementation of the “Waters of the United States” rule, the Senate has provided much needed clarity for farmers and ranchers regarding which waters on their land are subject to permitting requirements. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) and our member organizations […]
Congress Disapproves of Clean Water Rule Despite Clear Benefits for Agriculture
Turning aside the opportunity to protect clean water protections for agriculture and public health, Congress has decidedly rejected the EPA’s attempt to clarify long-confusing jurisdictional definitions within the Clean Water Act. On Wednesday, January 12, the House voted to overturn the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Clean Water Rule and prevent any similar rules from […]
Agriculture Featured in Chesapeake Bay Watershed Protection and Restoration
This week, the Obama Administration unveiled a comprehensive strategy for dealing with nutrient and sediment pollution in Chesapeake Bay watersheds and issued guidance for federal land managers in the region for reducing nutrient and sediment pollution. In addition, EPA announced a settlement in Fowler v. EPA, a case in which plaintiffs alleged that EPA […]
Clean Water Network’s “March Madness” DC Gathering
The Clean Water Network, a coalition of over 1,000 organizations working together to protect the nation’s waters, held a “March Madness” fly-in in Washington D.C. on March 14-16. NSAC and many of our member organizations are Network members. Key fly-in events had an agricultural focus. A congressional briefing on March 15, entitled “The Mississippi – […]
2011 Budget Drill Down: EPA on Water and Air
This post is the third in a series of commentaries by NSAC staff on the President’s 2011 budget, released on February 1st. To read the overview by Executive Director Aimee Witteman click here. Look out in the following days for more budget analysis on research programs, conservation, rural programs and more. The proposed EPA budget […]