Substantial Potential to Pollute

Substantial Potential to Pollute

I’m KayDee Gilkey with today’s Open Range.

Imagine being pulled over by an police officer for driving a car that has the capacity go up to speeds of 100 miles an hour. Not that you were speeding, but according to the officer, you will get a ticket merely because you had the substantial potential to speed; sound nutty?

Well, that is how Washington Cattlemen’s Association Executive Vice President Jack Field explains some new draft regulation recommendations.
Under the Governor’s direction, the Department of Ecology, Dept. of Ag and Conservation Commission have released a draft recommendation named 3DT to address the perceived holes or gaps in enforcing non-point water quality standards.

Field says there will most likely be a proposed bill with a specific focus on livestock and water quality in the 2013 legislative session and producers need to pay attention.

Field: “This is an issue that is not going away, and producers need to be engaged and be aware of what is going on and follow very closely. Because when the bill gets introduced, we will need lots of folks to get their comments together, send them in either electronically or show up in person to testify on this bill.”

Field comments on this draft document with cowboy common sense and logic.

Field: “This is a solution in search of a problem. When you ask the Department of Ecology if they feel like they lack any authority to enforce the Clean Water Act. Their answer back immediately is, ‘Absolutely No.’ They’ve got plenty of authority. So, then my question is if they have enough authority, why do they need more regulation?”