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Source: PRESS RELEASE, 1/24/13
Editor's Note: Rep. Walter B. Jones (NC-3) and former Rep. Larry Kissell (NC-8) are also cosponsors of the bill.
U.S. Congressman Mike McIntyre (N.C.-7) recently helped introduce a bill to protect small farms from being unfairly targeted by burdensome and expensive regulations regarding oil storage tanks.
Congressman McIntyre stated, “Helping farmers and keeping agriculture strong is one of my priorities! I am pleased to support this important measure which would scale back excessive EPA regulations. The House has unanimously passed this bill before, and I urge it to do the same again!”
In May of this year, farmers and ranchers will be required to comply with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations mandating costly infrastructure improvements to oil storage containers. Under the regulations issued by the EPA, any above ground oil storage facility exceeding 1,320 gallons must comply. This would apply to most farmers and ranchers across the nation, including small scale producers who may not be able to afford it. Representative McIntyre and several other representatives from farm states have introduced the Farmers Undertake Environmental Land Stewardship (FUELS) Act which would increase the exemption level of the EPA regulations from 1,320 to 10,000 gallons.
A study has shown that the FUELS Act is estimated to save the agriculture community up to $3.6 billion in compliance costs.
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