Environmental Protection Agency
Michael Regan, EPA administrator, appeared before the House Ag Committee on Wednesday to discuss everything from WOTUS to the farm bill. Here are the highlights that will directly impact producers.
“As I understand it, this rule says EPA is going to determine jurisdiction on a case-by-case basis,” says NCBA’s Ethan Lane. “This is never the way you want a bureaucracy to interact with your private businesses.”
The EPA’s new definition of Waters of the U.S. takes effect Monday. Here’s a rundown of what is considered WOTUS and, therefore, subject to federal regulation.
While Iowa and Nebraska attorney generals have weighed suing EPA for its delayed ruling, members of Congress feel the matter should be dealt with through legislative process.
The House last week has already passed its WOTUS rule resolution and it’s up for a Senate vote. The White House has pledged a veto of the measure, should it reach President Joe Biden’s desk.
EPA is looking to evolve the existing chemical licensing program to offer more education and training in restricted use pesticides.
ASA CEO: Renewable Diesel Could Drive a New Era for Soybean Demand, But EPA Needs to Rethink the RFS
ASA policy priorities during Commodity Classic focus on everything from the Farm Bill to EPA’s recent Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) proposal, while also pushing for increased market access through trade.
Remember when Trump was president and he tried to find a “win-win” regarding ethanol policy? In the end, neither side was satisfied. That again is the case with EPA’s year-round E15 sale announcement on Wednesday.
“This proposal, while well-intended, still leaves the country with a patchwork of regulations that prevents the nation’s driving public from enjoying the full benefits of biofuels,” said Sen. Deb Fischer.
With two recent announcements the EPA has approved labels for over-the-top dicamba applications (XtendiMax, Engenia and Tavium herbicides) in 2023 in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota.
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday suspended the RFS compliance obligations for two refineries that were denied small refinery exemptions by EPA in 2021.
Farm Bureau’s Duvall says the rule puts farmers and ranchers in a position where they will have to hire lawyers and consultants to establish the boundaries of farming.
ERP Phase Two is likely to be announced by USDA in coming weeks, according to Jim Wiesemeyer. In a farm bill year, he says there might be more opportunities to capture additional profit.
EPA is seeking comment on it’s proposed RFS levels for 2023-2025, in addition to comments on environmental impacts from the RFS to include: assessments of air, water and soil quality, and biodiversity.
The definition maintains longstanding exemptions for farming activities but trims an exclusion for prior converted cropland that had been in the Trump administration’s Navigable Waters Protection Rule.
Renewable diesel capacity topped 2 billion gallons per year as of August, according to the latest data released from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. But EPA used a lower figure.
Proposed renewable fuel volume targets, electric vehicle’s seat at the RFS table and year-round E15 odds: Here’s everything you need to know about renewable fuel’s big week on The Hill.
EPA is facing a Nov. 30 deadline to propose 2023 renewable fuel blending levels as part of a negotiated deal with Growth Energy, which sued EPA for failing to deliver the proposed levels by the statutory deadline.
The GAO study released on Thursday found small oil refineries pay more than larger competitors to fulfill their blending obligations, showing EPA’s reason to deny refinery exemption petitions is inaccurate.
EPA approved a second phase of ethanol studies in E30 as the agency weighs its 2023 biofuel blending targets ahead of the Nov. 16 deadline. Jon Doggett, NCGA president, shares his team’s predictions for ethanol in 2023.
By the end of the year, the Biden administration is expected to issue new rules that Government Lawyer Brian Fletcher told the court will “provide greater clarity to the regulated public on all parts of the test.”
The WOTUS case, Sackett v. EPA, centers on a long-running dispute involving an Idaho couple named Chantell and Michael Sackett. The Sacketts have won at the Supreme Court before.
The National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health released on Tuesday will cover everything from a congressional push for $15 per hour minimum wage to research in soil management impacts on human health.
If you were confused Friday about the EPA announcement on glyphosate, you were not alone. Bottom line: glyphosate can still be used.
EPA proposes to reduce biofuels blending levels, add a supplemental obligation to volumes and reject 65 pending applications for small refinery exemptions.
EPA public comment on WOTUS closed on Feb. 11. Industry leaders and lawmakers are rushing to plead their Clean Water Act case with agency officials.
In early April, President Biden—ahead of EPA—formally announced the suspension of a federal rule that prohibits the sale of E15 blended biofuels during summer months in hopes of alleviating rising pump prices.
The Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee held its first hearing on the Renewable Fuel Standard for the first time since 2016.
The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) gets a lot of headline time in agriculture as it directly correlates with corn and soybeans. Understanding the dynamics of RFS and the role government agencies play is another ballgame.
EPA believes the current pesticide approval system has major “unsustainable and legally tenuous” setbacks. Courts currently dictate ESA cases for the EPA, but this new workplan will allow the Agency to work alone.