On the final Friday of 2022, the Biden Administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its final rule related to the Clean Water Act, commonly called WOTUS (Waters of the United States). As expected from the proposed rules, the Administration is seeking further jurisdiction over water infringing upon Oklahoma’s cattle producer’s private property.
“This version of WOTUS seems to revert back to some of the provisions of the original Obama Administration rule,” said Michael Kelsey, Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) Executive Vice President. “In an attempt to control more water and water ways, EPA is reaching to control private property.”
Under The Clean Water Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of the Army are given the authority to define “waters of the United States” in regulations.
OCA President Byron Yeoman commented, “Oklahoma cattle producers need certainty with WOTUS, which is what was achieved under the Navigable Waters Protection Rule in 2020. EPA’s effort to rewrite and issue a new rule does nothing but cause confusion and uncertainty.”
OCA will continue to monitor the rule as EPA prepares to implement while communicating the deficiencies in the rule to Congress.
The OCA is the trusted voice of the Oklahoma Cattle Industry. OCA is the only voice that speaks solely for the cattlemen of Oklahoma and represents beef producers in all 77 counties across the state. The OCA officers, board of directors and membership encourages you to join us in our advocacy efforts to ensure less government intervention, lower taxes and a better bottom line. For more information about OCA membership, the theft reward program or activities call 405-235-4391 or visit www.okcattlemen.org.
