Stakeholders Back EPA FY15 Bill's Rider Scrapping CWA 'Interpretive' Rule

Agriculture industry officials and some environmentalists are generally backing an omnibus fiscal year 2015 funding bill rider that would force the administration to scrap an “interpretive” rule clarifying agricultural practices that are exempt from Clean Water Act (CWA) permits, given broad criticism of the rule for its alleged legal flaws. The rule, which took effect March 25, is part of EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers' broader rulemaking to define the scope of CWA jurisdiction. It exempts 56 agricultural...