The Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) is one of 23 Minnesota farm and business organizations signing a letter supporting bipartisan bill H.R. 5078, Waters of the United States Regulatory Overreach Protection Act of 2014.

H.R. 5078 will prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers from finalizing and adopting the proposed Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule.

The letter was sent to Minnesota’s congressional and senate delegation. The House is expected to vote on H.R. 5078 in the very near future, possibly later this afternoon or tonight.

Here is an excerpt from the letter:

H.R. 5078 will prevent the EPA and Army Corps from developing, finalizing, adopting, implementing, applying, administering, or enforcing the proposed WOTUS rule. This legislation is imperative in protecting your constituents – land owners, farmers, as well as all Minnesotans – in their ability to perform normal land use activities without requiring permission and permits from a federal agency. Through the agencies expanding the land areas for federal jurisdiction by way of their expanded classification of what they consider to fit within their view of Waters of the U.S., the proposed rule inappropriately seeks to extend federal power and place more top-down regulatory burdens on all types of land use activities.

EPA and the Army Corps on March 25 issued a proposed WOTUS rule that would expand its regulatory authority under the Clean Water Act (CWA) to dictate land-use decisions and farming practices in or near ponds. puddles and ditches. The rule will make it more difficult to change a farming operation to remain competitive and profitable.

To learn more about WOTUS and its negative impact on America’s farmers and landowvers, go here. Kirtby Hettver, a farmer in DeGraff, Minn., also shared his thoughts on WOTUS back in June.