Cattlemen Score Victory on Dust Vote
Dec 12, 2011
By Mike Deering, NCBA Communications
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) received a clear signal on Dec. 8, 2011, from the U.S. House of Representatives that placing burdensome and scientifically unfounded regulations on U.S. farmers and ranchers is unacceptable. In a bipartisan showing, the House voted 268 to 150 in favor of Congresswoman Kristi Noem’s (R-S.D) Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act of 2011(H.R. 1633). National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Bill Donald calls today’s vote a win for regulatory certainty for cattlemen and women.
"Unfortunately, taking EPA’s word that farm dust will not be further regulated provides absolutely no relief to those cattle producers already faced with dust regulations. We saw legislation as the only option to give all ranchers across the country any sort of peace of mind," said Donald, who is a rancher from Melville, Mont. "Cattlemen and women worried about being fined for moving cattle, tilling a field or even driving down a dirt road should rest assured knowing that will not be allowed to happen on our watch. The bill provides much-needed certainty for cattlemen."
Click here to read our full release on the passage HR 1633.
Click here to listen to audio from NCBA's Deputy Environmental Counsel, Ashley Lyon, on the passage of HR 1633.
