American Farm Bureau Federation takes aim at EPA

The Environmental Protection Agency is in the sights of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF).

When Congress reconvenes in early January, legislation changing the rule-making process for federal agencies such as the EPA, might very well be on its agenda.

AFBF Director of Environment and Energy Police Paul Schlegel stated recent actions by the EPA indicate the need for reform.

"We, Farm Bureau, have been encouraging, very strongly, Congress to take up the issue because our experience with the Waters of the U.S., the WOTUS rule-making, shows us that we need to have changes in the system to make sure that stakeholders like farmers and ranchers are protected when these rule-makings take place," Schlegel said. 

Schlegel said what he called the EPA's "overreach" and "scare tactics" need to be changed.

"We had a circumstance in that particular rule-making in which the agency effectively was lobbying itself," Schlegel said. "The way they used social media went over the line as to what we thought was a fair and objective approach to the rule. One of the things we have recommended to the House Judiciary Committee when they take up legislation is to address this question."

Schlegel said that Congress currently has the ability to address some issues quickly.

"One of them is the mitigation policy that was proposed by the Obama administration," Schlegel said. "That’s something that the Trump administration, because it’s strictly an executive order, they can do that on the day the president comes in. We’re hopeful there will be a little bit of a change in perspective at EPA in terms of how they are looking at reregistration of pesticides, so there’s actually a number of things we want to see addressed."