On the recordFebruary 18, 2011
I offer this amendment because I'm concerned about an EPA rule on the National Primary or Secondary Ambient Air Quality Standards that would make the standard for the amount of coarse particulate matter in the air more stringent. Last summer, the EPA laid the groundwork to regulate dust at an unprecedented level. We must stop the EPA from any regulation of farm dust. Anyone who has driven a combine through a field or a pickup down a gravel road knows that dust is a part of rural living. Potentially fining farmers and livestock producers who practice good management with new dust regulations would be excessive and extremely detrimental to our Nation's vital agriculture industry. Mr. Chairman, it's hard to think of something more emblematic of Washington's regulatory overreach than the potential punishment of farmers and livestock producers for kicking up a little dust. Expanding the coarse particulate matter standard on dust would be a burdensome regulation for farmers and ranchers. My amendment would prohibit the EPA from using any of the funds made available under this act to modify the standard for coarse particulate matter under the Clean Air Act. There is enough uncertainty in farming in rural America. We do not need to add to that uncertainty with the threat of more strict EPA regulations on farm dust. Farmers are certainly looking for certainty about the future. Burdening them with greater regulations on dust is excessive and unreasonable.
