Jamestown  (NDFU) – ND Farmers Union President Mark Watne made the following statement on the EPA’s announcement to repeal the 2015 Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule, which restores pre-2015 regulations for all states while EPA works to finalize a replacement for WOTUS.

“We are glad a determination has been made on WOTUS. The language was confusing and definitions were limited, creating uncertainty as to the depth and impact on farmers and agriculture. We were also concerned about the potential of another agency having oversight of water on our farms and believe that oversight should always be held within USDA. Farmers must be at the table when determining any revised regulations that will impact the water associated with the land they farm.”