Oklahoma Farm Report masthead graphic with wheat on the left and cattle on the right.
Howdy Neighbors!
Ron Hays, Director of Farm and Ranch Programming, Radio Oklahoma Ag Network  |  2401 Exchange Ave, Suite F, Oklahoma City, Ok 73108  |  (405) 601-9211

advertisements
   
   
   
   
   

Beef Buzz News


EPA Closer to Making Final Decision on Direction of Dust Regulations

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 6:07:09 CDT

EPA Closer to Making Final Decision on Direction of Dust Regulations As anticipated, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its final Policy Assessment for the Review of the Particulate Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standards. According to Tamara Thies, chief environmental counsel for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association(NCBA), the policy assessment is an important document in the regulatory process that sets forth the EPA staff's advice to the administrator about the regulation of coarse particulate matter, more commonly known as dust. In the final policy assessment, agency staffers determined that EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson would be justified in either keeping the current standard or tightening it to a level that would be essentially twice as stringent for much of rural America. Thies said the good news is that the policy assessment included options rather than a stand alone recommendation to make the "dust standard" more stringent. The bad news is EPA can still choose to regulate dust in a way that would put a stranglehold on rural America.


We discuss the choices ahead for Administator Jackson in today's Beef Buzz.


"Dust is a part of life in rural America. Cattle ranchers work hard to provide safe and nutritious food for this country and abroad. Finalizing a rule that would result in heavy fines for creating dust by simply driving down a dirt road or herding cattle is unacceptable. If EPA Administrator Jackson is serious when she says EPA is not working against agriculture, she needs to prove it," said Thies. "We urge EPA Administrator Jackson to keep the current standard."


The final policy assessment states that the two standards are essentially equivalent in terms of health protection. However, Thies said the effect on the rural American economy is not equivalent. A recent study commissioned by NCBA found that changes being considered by EPA could bring vast areas of the Midwestern, Southwestern and Western United States into nonattainment or to the brink of nonattainment where slight changes in a weather pattern could make all the difference.


"While Administrator Jackson has complained recently about so-called 'myths and misconceptions' about her intentions regarding this issue, NCBA urges her to put all our minds at ease by declaring unequivocally that EPA's actions will not result in a more restrictive regulation of dust in rural America. Avoiding responsibility by claiming it's up to the states to determine how dust will be regulated is inappropriate since agriculture is a dust-generating industry that is likely to be negatively affected by a tighter standard," said Thies. "Since tightening the standard is not required by science, this is the administrator's opportunity to reduce the mounting pile of burdensome and unnecessary regulations on agriculture."


U.S. Representative Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) introduced, with bipartisan support, the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act of 2011 (H.R. 1633) that would block dust regulation by EPA in rural areas where state dust laws are in effect.


"We support Congresswoman Noem and the other members of Congress who have risen in support of farmers and ranchers against burdensome and scientifically unfounded regulations," said Thies.


EPA is expected to issue a proposed rule to regulate dust in August 2011.


Click here for full report as issued by the staff of the EPA.


The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the state on the Radio Oklahoma Network- but is also a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the listen bar below for today's show- and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.



   
   

Ron Hays Beef Buzzes on the Dust Standard Debate within EPA
right-click to download mp3

 

WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI

 

Beef News

  • January Cattle on Feed Report Three Percent Under Year Ago- Derrell Peel Says Tighter Supplies Will Be Around for Awhile  Mon, 23 Jan 2023 05:15:04 CST
  • Derrell Peel Talks Latest Cattle on Feed Report- Showing Fewer Cattle on Feed, Lighter Placements and Stronger Marketings.  Mon, 26 Dec 2022 08:19:00 CST
  • Kara Lee with Certified Angus Beef Tells Cattlemen 'Cut the Bull'  Fri, 23 Dec 2022 14:30:39 CST
  • Beef Checkoff Utilizes Digital Marketing Techniques to Interact with Consumers   Thu, 22 Dec 2022 16:02:51 CST
  • Beef Checkoff Research, Education, and Promotion Efforts Point Consumers to Beef  Wed, 21 Dec 2022 16:15:46 CST
  • OSU Economist Derrell Peel Expects US Beef Export Strength to Continue Into the New Year   Tue, 20 Dec 2022 08:00:35 CST
  • NPPC's Michael Formica Feeling Positive About Supreme Courts Upcoming Proposition 12 Decision  Mon, 05 Dec 2022 10:08:27 CST
  • NCBA Fights to Improve Marketing Options for Cattle Producers  Fri, 02 Dec 2022 09:58:28 CST
  • Chinese Consumers Continue to Grow Appetite for U.S. Beef  Thu, 01 Dec 2022 09:23:49 CST
  • Merck Creates Value for Producers and Consumers with Technology and Biopharmaceuticals   Wed, 30 Nov 2022 09:55:28 CST
  • NCBA’s Todd Wilkinson Ready to Fight Back Against Regulatory Overreach in the Cattle Industry   Tue, 29 Nov 2022 10:13:33 CST
  • NCBA and PLC Call ESA Listing Plan of Lesser Prairie Chicken Punitive for Cattle Producers in Southern Plains  Wed, 23 Nov 2022 14:51:02 CST
  • November Cattle on Feed Report Confirms October Pattern of Lower Placements and Tighter Cattle Numbers in Feedlots  Tue, 22 Nov 2022 05:07:02 CST
  • Turning the Corner- OSU's Derrell Peel Sees Tighter Cattle Inventories into 2023 in Latest Cattle on Feed Report  Mon, 21 Nov 2022 04:36:33 CST
  • Turning the Corner- OSU's Derrell Peel Sees Tighter Cattle Inventories into 2023 in Latest Cattle on Feed Report  Mon, 21 Nov 2022 04:27:40 CST
  • Midterm Elections to Set Stage for What Can Be Expected in 2023 Farm Bill  Mon, 07 Nov 2022 12:13:57 CST
  • USMEF's Dan Halstrom Remains Cautiously Optimistic about Strong Beef Demand Going Forward  Thu, 03 Nov 2022 09:35:46 CDT
  • Economic Factors Create Hesitancy in Beef Plant Expansion Plans  Wed, 02 Nov 2022 11:03:34 CDT
  • NCBA's Mike Simone Says Consumer Interest in Fake Meat is on the Decline  Tue, 01 Nov 2022 11:41:02 CDT
  • Beef Remains Valued Product for Consumers as it Allows Them to Stretch their Dollar  Mon, 31 Oct 2022 09:15:56 CDT
  • Hugh Aljoe Provides Methods to Begin and Maintain Good Land Stewardship  Fri, 28 Oct 2022 09:30:13 CDT
  • Implement Soil Health Practices Now to Increase Forage Production when Rains Come  Thu, 27 Oct 2022 15:14:07 CDT
  • Third Beef. It's What's For Dinner. 300 Promotes the Beef Industry on a National Level  Wed, 26 Oct 2022 15:32:23 CDT
  • Latest Cattle on Feed Report from USDA Implies Fewer Pounds of Beef Available in 2023   Tue, 25 Oct 2022 10:17:53 CDT
  • OSU's Derrell Peel- Lower Placements and Smaller On Feed Number Highlight October Cattle on Feed Report  Sun, 23 Oct 2022 12:45:37 CDT
  • Beef Checkoff Research Continues to Share Beef Sustainability Story with Consumers  Fri, 21 Oct 2022 09:23:36 CDT
  • Beef Checkoff Research Works to Ensure Consumers Beef is a Product They Can Trust  Thu, 20 Oct 2022 13:44:44 CDT
  • Odds for Significant Wheat Pasture Going Lower Daily in the Southern Plains  Wed, 19 Oct 2022 14:35:46 CDT
  • NCBA Weighs in on California's Proposition 12   Tue, 18 Oct 2022 11:32:24 CDT
  • 2022 Stockyards Steak Out Takes Oklahoma Beef to the Next Level  Mon, 17 Oct 2022 11:09:07 CDT
  • Holding Onto Your Cow Herd a Little Longer is Projected to Pay Off, says Randy Blach  Fri, 14 Oct 2022 08:14:05 CDT
  • Randy Blach Confident in Better Cattle Market Conditions Down the Road  Thu, 13 Oct 2022 09:43:02 CDT
  • No Imports or Exports Would Result in a Smaller U.S. Beef Cattle Industry  Wed, 12 Oct 2022 16:11:15 CDT
  • Derrell Peel Explains Why International Trade of Beef is Valuable  Tue, 11 Oct 2022 08:19:29 CDT
  • Animal Agriculture Hopeful for a Win as U.S. Supreme Court Looks at California's Proposition 12   Mon, 10 Oct 2022 09:26:17 CDT

  •  

       

    Ron salutes our daily email sponsors!

    Oklahoma Beef council Oklahoma Ag Credit Oklahoma Farm Bureau National Livestock Credit Ag Mediation Program P&K Equipment Oklahoma City Farm Show Union Mutual Stillwater Milling Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association KIS FUTURES, INC.
       
       
       
       

    Search OklahomaFarmReport.com

    © 2008-2024 Oklahoma Farm Report
    Email Ron   |   Newsletter Signup   |    Current Spots   |    Program Links

    WebReady powered by WireReady® Inc.