EPA Called Out

EPA Called Out. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. On Wednesday, members of the Rural American Solutions Group, who focus on developing solutions to address issues facing rural America, held a forum to examine how new and proposed EPA regulations are stifling job creation and economic growth in rural America. Co-chair of the group, Washington Congressman Doc Hastings says that even though a lot of people voiced strong opinions towards the EPA there really were no resolutions. HASTINGS: No, nothing was resolved because we sent an invitation to EPA to have them show up and yet nobody from the EPA showed up at all. But what we heard over and over from the witnesses and that was a very wide variety of witnesses from various parts of our economy. All of them said in no uncertain terms that the restrictions that are trying to be promulgated by EPA are having a serious effect on their businesses or their associations. According to Hastings the EPA has had no response at all. HASTINGS: One thing we can do again if the elections are kind and there is a change in leadership in the U.S. House, we can de-fund a lot of those initiatives that EPA has taken. Some members that serve on the appropriations committee are talking precisely that way. One of EPA's rules involves something that most farmers and folks in rural areas know a lot about. HASTINGS: Too much dust in the air violates the clean air act and then there has to be some mitigation measures. It is ridiculous to the point that a car driving on a dusty road would violate those standards. It defies logic. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.