EPA Boosts Water Policing as Farmers Say Worst Fears Realized

[marmar]

(Bloomberg) Fifth-generation farmer Kenny Watkins ran afoul of the U.S. clean-water police in 2009. His infraction: Planting hay in a pasture.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ordered Watkins to stop cultivating a 160-acre (65-hectare) tract in central California because he might destroy seasonal ponds and harm the San Joaquin River. Watkins has defied the decision and the federal government’s control over what he can grow on his farm.

His battle is cited by agriculture groups as they try to fend off a proposal by the Corps and the Environmental Protection Agency to enlarge the U.S. role in guarding waterways against contamination. The two agencies are reviewing a plan that would require permits under the Clean Water Act for work on wetlands or small channels that are usually dry. They say they’re clarifying authority they already have and critics say it’s a power grab.

“Our worst fears are being realized,” Watkins, 48, said in an interview with Bloomberg Government, predicting his experience may be repeated on cropland across the country. “They keep coming up with more tools to use against us.” .........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-26/epa-boosts-water-policing-as-farmers-say-worst-fears-realized.html

[etherealtruth]

1. Our worst fears have been realized ....

... with the gutting of funding for policing by the EPA.

Filing for permits is not an undue burden.

[Igel]

4. Assuming that the granting of permits is automatic.

That filing is free. And that the automatic approval follows within a week or two.

My one experience with the EPA causes me to adopt a "guilty until provent innocent" posture, in that filing is not free, approval is rare, and receiving any response is a lengthy process in which the citizen has the dignity and worth of a commercially raised, contaminated worm.

[etherealtruth]

5. The granting of permits is not and should not be automatic

Anything that has the potential to appreciably impact the environment requires careful scrutiny. Very often there are broad actions that are excluded from oversight and granted approval or do not require approval.

As an example, it was not long ago wetlands were carelessly destroyed without thought. after the fact we learned the dangers associated with wetland destruction.

I will agree dealing with the EPA is the same as dealing with any governmental bureaucracy (inarguably this could and should be streamlined); however, our water (environment) is a very precious resource that we have done a very poor job protecting.

[TheWraith]

2. Fuck Bloomberg. nt

[Major Nikon]

3. Leave it to Bloomberg to give us a one sided account

They talk to farmers, homebuilders, railroad companies, steelmakers, oil producers, farm bureaus, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. To get the other side of the story they print one sentence from one environmental group and bury it deep inside the article. Might as well had the Koch bros write the story.

[XemaSab]

6. If he ran a grader through a slough

or graded known vernal pools, that would be a violation.

This is definitely a one-sided story.

[XemaSab]

7. Also, it sounds like his problems were with the Army Corps

and possibly USFWS, but not the EPA.

Usually farm discharge is considered non-point source pollution (as opposed to point source, which is from a factory), and I don't think that's currently being regulated.

[NashVegas]

8. Funny Thing

Yesterday morning I was riverside, speaking to a rural land-owner about soil erosion and how it's changing our riverbeds.

He made the charge that Ag is out there *promoting* clear-cutting.

[hunter]

9. Whine, whine, whine...

There are few sounds more hideous than the squeals of a right
wing San Joaquin farmer whining about environmental
regulations and water.

WATKINS, KENNY MR
LINDEN, CA
$500	06/29/2010	P	CARLY FOR CALIFORNIA INC - Republican
$200	06/01/2010	P	POMBO FOR CONGRESS - Republican
$1,000	03/25/2010	P	POMBO FOR CONGRESS - Republican
$1,000	02/11/2010	P	GOEHRING FOR CONGRESS - Republican

http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/kenny-watkins.asp?cycle=10

[Odin2005]

10. Typical selfish Teabagger. "I'm more important than the Environment" is this fucker's motto.

[xchrom]

11. Too bad, buddy. Nt