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Avoiding a Costly “Dust Up” for Iowa Farmers
Late last week, Lisa Jackson, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, alerted a couple members of Congress that she will not revise current regulations on dust. So, it appears, for now, that the EPA will not put more stringent regulations on the amount of dust stirred up by agriculture and rural activities.
Hallelujah.
I’ve been fighting this proposed dust regulation through two administrations. But, there’s nothing to say that we won’t be fighting the next administration when the regulation comes around for its five-year review required by the Clean Air Act. So, I’ll continue to push for passage of the bill I introduced with Senator Mike Johanns that would prohibit the EPA from setting stricter dust standards unless supported by sound science.
Regulating the dust coming out of a combine harvesting soybeans or monitoring the dust off a gravel road of a pick-up truck traveling into town makes zero sense to the common-sense people of Iowa. The truth of the matter is that if the administration were to decide to revise the “particulate” standard, farmers and livestock producers likely would be unable to attain the standard levels and the rural economy would be devastated.
I first began asking questions about the EPA’s proposed changes to existing dust rules in 2006. I’ve stayed on the case as the rule has progressed through the regulatory process to ensure that the unique aspects of agriculture and rural America are accounted for. I even went so far as to invite the last two EPA administrators to Iowa to see for themselves the important role that farmers play in their communities. Administrator Stephen Johnson came to Iowa in 2006 and heard directly from several farmers and agricultural specialists. Current Administrator Lisa Jackson sent two staff members to Iowa in 2009 to spend the day with me touring a family farm, the Iowa State University research facility and a biodiesel plant.
Iowans reiterated to me throughout the summer their distaste for this nonsensical regulation. It’s good to see their common sense prevail.
October 21, 2011
Late last week, Lisa Jackson, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, alerted a couple members of Congress that she will not revise current regulations on dust. So, it appears, for now, that the EPA will not put more stringent regulations on the amount of dust stirred up by agriculture and rural activities.
Hallelujah.
I’ve been fighting this proposed dust regulation through two administrations. But, there’s nothing to say that we won’t be fighting the next administration when the regulation comes around for its five-year review required by the Clean Air Act. So, I’ll continue to push for passage of the bill I introduced with Senator Mike Johanns that would prohibit the EPA from setting stricter dust standards unless supported by sound science.
Regulating the dust coming out of a combine harvesting soybeans or monitoring the dust off a gravel road of a pick-up truck traveling into town makes zero sense to the common-sense people of Iowa. The truth of the matter is that if the administration were to decide to revise the “particulate” standard, farmers and livestock producers likely would be unable to attain the standard levels and the rural economy would be devastated.
I first began asking questions about the EPA’s proposed changes to existing dust rules in 2006. I’ve stayed on the case as the rule has progressed through the regulatory process to ensure that the unique aspects of agriculture and rural America are accounted for. I even went so far as to invite the last two EPA administrators to Iowa to see for themselves the important role that farmers play in their communities. Administrator Stephen Johnson came to Iowa in 2006 and heard directly from several farmers and agricultural specialists. Current Administrator Lisa Jackson sent two staff members to Iowa in 2009 to spend the day with me touring a family farm, the Iowa State University research facility and a biodiesel plant.
Iowans reiterated to me throughout the summer their distaste for this nonsensical regulation. It’s good to see their common sense prevail.
October 21, 2011