NEMWI to Hold Briefing on Cost of Nitrate Removal from the Mississippi River

Nitrate pollution on the Mississippi River is increasing, which is resulting in higher treatment costs to ensure safe drinking water, according to a new Northeast-Midwest Institute study of drinking water treatment costs at water utilities. Elevated nitrate concentrations in water sources and increasing water treatment costs ultimately mean higher water bills for consumers. These and other findings are especially urgent as the current House text of the next Farm Bill would shutter key programs within the conservation title that alleviate nitrate pollution.  This urgency is further highlighted by the rollback of various environmental regulations, which will likely result in lower standards and even higher water treatment costs.

This briefing is an opportunity to hear the highlights of this new study and to learn about its implications for federal agricultural and environmental policy.  The panel is still being finalized, but will include experts from the Northeast-Midwest Institute, a water utility, and an environmental advocacy organization.

To RSVP, please email events@nemw.org.  For more information, please contact Eric Heath, Senior Policy Counsel for the Mississippi River Basin Program at the Northeast-Midwest Institute at eheath@nemw.org.

House Plans to Vote on Farm Bill

 

The House expects to vote next week on their version of the Farm Bill.  The current text has proven rather contentious for what is normally a bipartisan piece of legislation.  The main tension comes from proposed changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which would increase work requirements for beneficiaries under the program.  This has caused Democrats in the House to walk away from negotiations on the bill, leaving Republicans to find the votes necessary to pass it on their own. 

 

As of Thursday, May 10th, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conway told reporters that Republicans lacked the votes to proceed, but that they would be working over the weekend to whip up more support.  The House Freedom Caucus, while not explicitly opposing the bill, has had a number of its members express concern about certain provisions in the bill.

 

The current Farm Bill expires on October 1st of this year.  

 

EPA Delays WOTUS Rewrite

 

The Environmental Protection Agency has postponed its plan for rewriting the Obama-era Clean Water Rule or "Waters of the United States."  While the EPA initially was aiming to overhaul the rule by the end of the year, it now plans to implement changes no sooner than September of 2019.

 

The rule essentially determines what bodies of water and wetlands fall under the Clean Water Act's protections. These safeguards include requirements for federal discharge and dredge-and-fill permits, state water quality certifications, and a number of other protective measures.

 

The Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will not issue a final rule as of now, instead opting to put together another proposal as an addendum to the previous proposal. The addendum will "provide the public with additional clarity on the scope of the agencies' efforts," according to a statement by the two agencies.

 

A number of individuals and organizations including the NEMWI have spoken against the proposed changes.  The Institute's comments on the matter are available here and an announcement on the matter is available here.

 

 

NEMWI Staff to Testify at USTR on the Impact of Tariffs on Conservation Efforts in the Mississippi River Basin

 

On April 23rd, NEMWI submitted a proposal to testify before the United States Trade Representative regarding the impact on conservation practices that would result from proposed tariffs against the People's Republic of China.  The proposal was accepted and a member of the NEMWI staff will testify at 9:00 am on May 17th as part of Panel 14.  The hearing will be held in Courtroom A at the International Trade Commission at 500 E St SW, Washington, DC.  The testimony submitted is available here.

 

If you have any questions, please contact Eric Heath, Senior Policy Counsel for the Mississippi River Basin Program at the Northeast-Midwest Institute at eheath@nemw.org.