Waters of the U.S.

Waters of the U.S.

Waters of the U.S. Flap. I'm Greg Martin with today's Line On Agriculture.

It's an uphill battle - but Congressional efforts to turn back EPA rules farmers and ranchers opposed could get new legs - especially after November. EPA's rules to vastly expand its jurisdiction over waters - and separately shrink the Renewable Fuels Standard - will likely face push-back. Wyoming Senator Mike Enzi targets in a spending bill the Waters of the U.S. rule that could require permits for some ditches and other features that fill just when it rains. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says there could be a similar effort in the House.

GRASSLEY: If you use what's called a resolution that I term a Congressional veto, you only have to have 51 votes or a majority vote because it's not subject to filibuster. It's got a limit of 10 hours debate and then you vote.

A move that might have more of a chance in a GOP-controlled Senate - though Grassley admits a rider on a spending bill to block EPA could still be filibustered and face a 60-vote threshold. Still - Grassley sees pressure building for action sooner rather than.

GRASSLEY: If the House forces it, you're going to force that debate at least at the conference committee level and maybe with Enzi pushing it and he's got some outstanding examples in his state where there's been an overreach by the Corp of Engineers and by the EPA where it's just outrageous what they're trying to do to a rancher out there I think you're going to find the debate in the United States Senate and I hope we have that debate and I'd like to join that debate.

That's today's Line On Agriculture. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.

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