Washington Week Ahead: Focus on Waters of U.S. 'Interpretive Rule'
WASHINGTON, JUNE 16, 2014 – Agricultural
stakeholders will be closely following a House Agriculture subcommittee hearing
on Thursday as it reviews the “interpretive
rule” included in the EPA’s proposal for redefining the waters of
the U.S. that fall under its jurisdiction as specified by the Clean Water Act.
The EPA says the interpretive rule aims to
clarify the applicability of 56 exemptions from the permitting process provided
under section 404 of the CWA to “discharges of dredged or fill material
associated with certain agricultural practices,” based on USDA’s Natural
Resources Conservation Service practices.
While the EPA says the so-called “waters of the
U.S.” rule will protect the nation’s streams and wetlands from pollution, the
agricultural community for the most part regards the plan as another costly federal
power grab.
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas
has come out strongly against the EPA proposal, exemptions notwithstanding.
“If EPA succeeds in doing by rule what Congress
will never give them authority to do by law, basically they will control every
drop of water from the ocean all the way back to the parking lot of your
business, the rain coming off your barn, the drop coming off the brim of your
hat,” he said in a recent interview with Agri-Pulse.
Farmers and ranchers will also be keeping an eye on USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack this week as he travels in Europe to discuss the importance of agriculture’s role in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP). The trip includes visits to Brussels, Luxembourg City, Paris and Dublin.
The U.S. and governments around the world are also observing National Pollinator Week, which was started by the Senate seven years ago as a way to address the urgent issue of declining pollinator populations. For a list of events all around the country, click here.
This week’s tentative events on Capitol Hill and
elsewhere in the Washington area include:
Monday,
June 16
The House is not in session.
9:15 a.m. Agriculture Secretary Vilsack holds
conference call with reporters on his trip to Europe this week and efforts to
move forward the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.
4 p.m. USDA weekly Crop Progress report.
Tuesday,
June 17
USDA Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden speaks at
the bio-based stakeholders dialogue at George Washington University in
Washington, D.C.
10 a.m. House Natural Resources Subcommittee on
Public Lands and Environmental Regulation holds a hearing to review legislation
including H.R. 4272, a bill to stop
implementation and enforcement of the Forest Service travel management rule and
to require the Forest Service to incorporate the needs, uses, and input of
affected communities before taking any travel management action affecting
access to units of the National Forest System derived from the public domain, and
for other purposes.
12 p.m. The House meets for morning hour at noon
then at 2 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will take place after 6:30 p.m.
10 a.m. Senate Agriculture Committee on
Agriculture holds a hearing to examine the role that bio-based products play in
helping to revitalize American manufacturing. The hearing s entitled “Grow it
Here, Make it Here: Creating Jobs through Bio-Based Manufacturing.” Afterward,
new technologies from 30 innovators will be spotlighted in the Kennedy Caucus
Room starting at 11:30. Witnesses at the hearing include: Scott Vitters,
general manager, plant-bottle innovation platform for Coca-Cola Co., and Kurtis
Miller, president, business unit, Cargill Industrial Specialties. 328A Russell.
3 p.m. USDA reports on Turkey Hatchery and Potato Stocks
Wednesday,
June 18
10 a.m. The House meets for morning hour and at
noon for legislative business.
10 a.m. Senate Appropriations Committee’s Energy
and Water Development Subcommittee meets for markup of the FY15
Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill. 192 Dirksen.
10 a.m. Senate Committee on Environment and
Public Works’ Clean Air Subcommittee holds a hearing entitled “Climate Change:
The Need to Act Now.” Witnesses include former EPA administrators William D. Ruckelshaus, Christine
Todd Whitman, William K. Reilly, and Lee M. Thomas. 406 Dirksen.
10 a.m. Senate Committee on Banking, House and
Urban Development’s Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance and Investment holds
a hearing on “High Frequency Trading’s Impact on the Economy. 528A Dirksen.
10 a.m. House Science, Space and Technology
subcommittee on Research and Technology holds a hearing on the future of ground
transportation. 2318 Rayburn.
3 p.m. USDA reports on Broiler Hatchery and Milk
Production.
Thursday,
June 19
10 a.m. The House meets for morning hour and at
noon for legislative business.
10 a.m. The House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Conservation,
Energy and Forestry holds a hearing to review the Interpretative Rule proposed
by EPA regarding the applicability of Clean Water Act agricultural exemptions.
1300 Longworth.
10
a.m. House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy and Power
holds a hearing to review EPA’s proposed greenhouse gas regulations for
existing power plants. Janet McCabe, EPA’s assistant administrator for the
Office of Air and Radiation, will be the sole witness. 2123 Rayburn.
10:30 a.m. Full Senate Appropriations Committee
meets to markup FY 2015 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill among
other appropriations measures. 106 Dirksen.
3 p.m. USDA reports on Agricultural Land Values
(Final Estimates 2009-2013), Floriculture Crops and Livestock Slaughter.
Friday,
June 20
9 a.m. The House meets for legislative business
with last votes expected no later than 3 p.m.
3 p.m. USDA reports on Cattle on Feed, Peanut
Prices.
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