Fischer, Ernst urge EPA to withdraw rule that harms meat, poultry processors

U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) led their colleagues in Congress in calling on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to withdraw a proposed rule covering wastewater discharged by small meat and poultry processors.

On Jan. 23, the EPA proposed a rule revising the Effluent Limitations Guidelines for Meat and Poultry Products, covering wastewater discharged by meat and poultry processors, as required by the Clean Water Act’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System program. Under the proposed rule, three regulatory options are included, which the EPA estimates would impact between 844 and 1,618 facilities. 

“The proposed rule exposes hundreds of operators to a new regulatory regime with significant costs and a disregard of the ramifications on stakeholders,” Sens. Fischer and Ernst, both members of the Senate Agriculture Committee, wrote in a March 4 letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan. 

“We are concerned the number of potential closures is likely much higher than estimated, and we believe it is irresponsible for EPA to propose regulations that will arbitrarily close plants and eliminate jobs from the rural economy,” they added.

Nine other senators joined Sens. Fischer and Ernst in signing the letter, including U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS). Seventeen House Republicans also joined the letter, including U.S. Reps. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) and Steve Womack (R-AR). 

The lawmakers said the EPA’s 60-day comment period, which the agency has announced will not be extended, was insufficient time to allow input from the industry. 

“Given the technical complexity and high costs of wastewater treatment alterations, coupled with the massive expansion of the number of regulated facilities, a 60-day comment period demonstrates EPA is not interested in seeking meaningful input from the regulated industry. As such, we urge EPA to withdraw the rule,” wrote the members.

Sens. Fischer and Ernst and their colleagues also urged Regan to work with stakeholders on any future rulemaking to ensure that the EPA’s actions do not compromise the U.S. food system.