A Washington, D.C., Circuit Court decision will stay a mandate regarding farm emissions reporting required under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA).
CERCLA was enacted in 1980 in response to industrial pollution.
EPCRA was first implemented in 1986 to help deal with chemical spills.
Craig Uden, President of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, says producers have yet one more reason to be thankful during the holiday weekend. “Cattle producers have yet another reason to celebrate Thanksgiving,” he said. “Agricultural operations were never intended to be regulated by these laws, so this court-ordered stay until January 22 is very welcome news.” Uden says the NCBA will continue to use the time between now and January to continue working on the introduction of stand-alone legislation to fix the issue. They’ll also be working to promote corrective language in the appropriations process as well.
For more information about the CERCLA/EPCRA reporting issue and how it affects cattle producers, visit NCBA’s website here.
From the National Association of Farm Broadcasting News Service.