Rep. Rick Crawford (R-AR)
Jul 13, 2016
WASHINGTON, DC -- EPA’s Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) Rule for Farms is back in the works again. Originally finalized several years ago, Congress used the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) in 2014 to mandate a higher exemption threshold of 6,000 gallons from the original 1,320 gallons. Unfortunately WRDA also contained a provision that threw it back to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct a study and then propose a new exemption between 2,500 and 6,000 gallons. EPA published their study in June 2015 and is setting the new exemption level at the minimum mandated by Congress of 2,500 gallons in a rule which is expected to see interagency review this summer, followed by publication.
In response, Congressman Rick Crawford (R-AR) included an amendment in the Interior-Environment appropriations bill to solve this issue by prohibiting the EPA from enforcing or implementing the SPCC regulation for farms. Amendment 70, as it is called, passed by voice vote late last night. USA Rice is supporting Congressman Crawford in this effort.