Farm Bureau Tells Court that EPA Dust Regs Baseless

A new Environmental Protection Agency rule that regulates dust generated by agricultural sources has no basis in the law or science, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. AFBF and three other agricultural groups, the National Catttlemen’s Beef Association, National Pork Producers Council and Agricultural Retailers Association, filed a joint brief with the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals urging review of the rule.

AFBF and the other groups contend that EPA erred in issuing a rule that regulates non-urban, rural areas under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for particulate matter. AFBF argued in the brief that EPA’s own findings prior to publication of the rule stated that dust from rural areas did not pose a public health risk.

“Everyday aspects of livestock and crop production, including tilling the soil and traveling on dirt roads to reach pastures and fields, can generate dust, particularly in dry areas,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman. “EPA's insistence on regulating rural dust has the potential to negatively impact all areas of agriculture.”

 “EPA ignored its own findings,” said SD Farm Bureau President Scott VanderWal.  “They are improperly trying to base their rule on something other than science.  The effects of this rule could seriously hamper the efforts of farm and ranch families who are working to feed our nation and the world.

“Just imagine being forced by the EPA to shut down the combines on dry days during soybean or wheat harvest because they are making too much dust,” VanderWal added.  “It’s unthinkable, but it could happen.”

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