June 27, 2017

National Association of State Departments (NASDA) Press Release

Following the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement today to withdraw the 2015 Clean Water Rule and recodify the previous regulations, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) President and Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture Michael G. Strain issued the following statement:

“The EPA has sided with state and local governments, farmers, landowners, and small businesses in their decision to rescind this burdensome regulation. The 2015 rule lacked clarity, and was fraught with procedural concerns and violations of congressional intent, making it necessary to start over with a new rule that protects clean water and respects state regulatory authority. State laws and programs partner with EPA, farmers and ranchers, and local entities to protect clean water every day. We look forward to working cooperatively with the EPA in developing – and eventually implementing – a new rule.”

All of NASDA’s official actions on WOTUS can be found here. NASDA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit association which represents the elected and appointed commissioners, secretaries, and directors of the departments of agriculture in all fifty states and four U.S. territories. To learn more about NASDA, please visit www.nasda.org.