ROBERTS EXPRESSES FRUSTRATION WITH EPA


     During a meeting earlier this week with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy, U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts from Kansas said the agency has unfairly targeted farmers, ranchers and rural America with burdensome regulations. Roberts told McCarthy his Kansas constituents are telling him EPA’s work to regulate water resources, fuel storage tanks, prescribed burning in the Flint Hills, cap and trade, pesticide permits and fugitive dust is an “assault on our way of life.”
     “The rocky relationship between Midwest agriculture and the EPA is not new, but the latest round of proposed regulations is making many folks believe the rules are driven by an anti-agriculture agenda that is hurting the Kansas economy,” said Roberts.
     He expressed frustration with the agency’s recent dismissal of concerns from Kansans regarding the proposed Waters of the U.S. rule. He specifically took issue with the EPA’s recent campaign calling these concerns “myths.”
     “Just two weeks ago, you were in Missouri to meet with producers regarding the proposed Waters of the United States regulation. Farmers and ranchers had hoped they would be able to persuade you to recognize the far reaching and negative impacts of the proposed and interpretive rules, but the reports back have not been positive.” Roberts said. “To hear that their concerns were categorized as ‘silly’ or ‘ludicrous’ is truly frustrating.”

KLA Vice President of Communications Todd Domer previews upcoming ranch field days in Comanche and Bourbon counties.