Backing Farmers

Backing Farmers

Backing Farmers. I'm Greg Martin with today's Line On Agriculture.

Shopping centers are considered America's marketplace - with more than 12-million shopping center-related jobs in the United States. Like the agriculture community - the shopping center industry - and real estate development as a whole - could be impacted by the Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers' proposed Waters of the U.S. rule. Abby Jagoda is the Director of Federal Government Relations for the International Council of Shopping Centers.

JAGODA: We know the intent was to create clarity surrounding what is in and what is out of federal jurisdiction but the proposed rule has thrown these jurisdictional determinations into question. As an industry that prides itself on the good business of conservation and clean water shopping centers realize that there are some water bodies that do rise to the level of federal jurisdiction that are currently not being regulated under federal authority. But to be clear, the waters in question are not unregulated. many of the storm water ditches and some of the other small waters that may now fall under federal jurisdiction are currently regulated by state and local authority under programs like NPDES.

In most cases - Jagoda says federal permits have higher prices and longer timelines than state and local permits.

JAGODA: So that means uncertain timelines when buildings are built on spec as is the case with many new centers and in some cases those prolonged permitting timelines will cause tenants to walk away from that particular center to the detriment of not only the landlord but the community as well.

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

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