WOTUS Enacted & Fire Briefing

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Senator Ron Wyden held a briefing on Friday regarding the status of the current wildfires in the western US and make remarks on the efforts to battle the fires and prevent future fires. The annual budget for fire suppression was recently passed and Wyden expressed his concerns.

WYDEN: My concern is that for much of the west this could be the new norm and what we need to do is have a comprehensive set of reforms put into place to deal with it and it really starts with the legislation stop "fire borrowing". In effect what has been happening is fire prevention gets the short end of the stick, consistently.

The Waters of the U.S. or WOTUS rule took effect in all but 13 states on Friday. The Clean Water Rule is supposed to protect the streams and wetlands that form the foundation of the nation's water resources from pollution and degradation. Many ag groups are concerned that a lack of clarity may cause regulatory problems and over-reach by the Environmental Protection Agency. A North Dakota Judge granted the injunction late Thursday afternoon for 13 states. In court documents, the judge stated "Delaying implementation to allow a full and final resolution on the merits is in the best interests of the public."

That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network of the West.