Donnelly Questions Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service on “Waters of the United States”
Senator Expresses Frustration on Behalf of Hoosier Agriculture Community Regarding Confusing, Burdensome Regulations
Washington, D.C. – In a hearing of the Senate Agriculture Committee this afternoon, U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly questioned Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Jason Weller of the U.S. Department of Agriculture on voluntary conservation efforts by Hoosier farmers and the troublesome rule defining “Waters of the United States” within the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the interpretive rule on exemptions for certain agricultural practices.
Watch Senator Donnelly’s questions and Chief Weller’s responses here.
During the hearing, Donnelly expressed the frustration he has heard regarding the confusing attempt by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Army Corps of Engineers, and the NRCS to update the rules defining waters protected by the CWA. He voiced his concern that regulations as currently written may have harmful and unintended consequences on the economy and the environment. Donnelly urged the agencies to work more effectively with the agriculture community to solve the problem without additional, burdensome regulation. Finally, Donnelly emphasized the great work many Hoosier farmers have voluntarily taken to improve water quality throughout the state and questioned Chief Weller on how we can best expand those efforts.
Donnelly sent a letter to the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers on October 7, 2014, requesting the agencies clarify and revise the jointly proposed rule. For more information on the letter, click here.
Additionally, Donnelly has worked to improve NRCS policies regarding cover crop management and termination policies.
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