Charles W. Stenholm: “What we are saying is there is a process in which most folks in USDA and EPA have agreed to from time to time, and that…”

“What we are saying is there is a process in which most folks in USDA and EPA have agreed to from time to time, and that is to allow the participation of all interests in this case, those groups concerned solely with conservation, but also not only those individual groups but also producers. There is a mistaken belief among some that farmers and ranchers are always on the opposite or other side of conservation, clean water and clean air; and nothing could be further from the truth. What we are saying and have been trying to say and have been almost totally ignored thus far by EPA is that we want to be included. We want to have them decide and discuss sound science and the rationale behind their proposal in this rulemaking and do it in the sunshine so everyone can see their rationale and can hear those who disagree, and then reasonable people can come together and can come up with a solution that accomplishes what we all want to accomplish. That has not been followed.”