The American Farm Bureau Federation and 17 other organizations announced a legal challenge to the new WOTUS rule Thursday. AFBF Deputy General Counsel Travis Cushman says the new WOTUS rule once again gives the federal government sweeping authority over private lands, “ So, the EPA just came out with another rule which doubles down on the significant nexus test, which is this unworkable test for jurisdiction of when the federal government regulates farms and ranches. And so, we filed our lawsuit to stop it.”
Cushman says the new rule is vague and creates uncertainty for agriculture, “We think that a farmer and rancher should not have to hire a team of lawyers and consultants to figure out what they can and cannot farm on their land. This rule doubles down on that and we simply want to respect the limits of the Clean Water Act and what a farmer can and can’t do on their land.”
Listen as Micheal Clements talks with Travis Cushman on why the groups decided to file the lawsuit.
Newsline January 19, 2023 – WOTUS Legal Challenge
