Statement on new Navigable Waters Protection Rule announcement

The following statement may be attributed to Texas Farm Bureau President Russell Boening after representatives of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army today announced the new Navigable Waters Protection Rule.

“Texas farmers and ranchers are committed to clean water. The new Navigable Waters Protection Rule announced today accomplishes the goals of clean water, clear regulations and respect for property rights. It repeals and replaces the 2015 Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule with a new Navigable Waters Protection Rule that is better for the economy and protects the environment. The new rule strikes the right balance between federal and state/local authority of water management.

"Farm and ranch families live on the land, drink water from wells located there and depend on clean water for growing crops and raising livestock. Clean water is also important for wildlife, which has become a critical part of many modern farming and ranching enterprises. Managing water use is a process developed by decades of best management practices.

"The 2015 WOTUS rule vastly expanded the authority of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It far outstripped the intent of Congress. The 2015 WOTUS rule was less about clean water and more about land control.

"The new Navigable Waters Protection Rule announced today provides much-needed regulatory clarity for those who grow the food, fiber and fuel for our country.”