The rule responds to the vacatur of the CERCLA/EPCRA reporting exemption from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

July 27, 2018

2 Min Read
EPA formalizes animal waste report exemptions under CERCLA
National Pork Board

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler signed a final rule earlier this week that made changes in regulations to conform to the Fair Agricultural Reporting Method Act. The final rule also removes the regulatory text of the EPA’s 2008 rule that provided an exemption to farms from reporting.

“EPA is taking action to reflect Congress’s direction in the FARM Act that removed an undue reporting burden on American agriculture,” says Wheeler. “EPA is committed to providing regulatory clarity and certainty to farmers and ranchers — hardworking Americans invested in conserving the land and environment.”

“Over the years, we’ve seen too many harmful federal regulations make it harder for Nebraska agriculture producers to feed the world,” says Sen. Deb Fischer from Nebraska. “That’s why I worked to pass legislation exempting farmers and ranchers from reporting requirements meant for toxic superfund sites. I thank Acting Administrator Wheeler for signing this final rule to implement the law that will provide our nation’s producers with the relief they deserve.”

Background
The rule responds to the vacatur of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act/Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act reporting exemption from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. On Dec. 18, 2008, the EPA published a final rule that exempted many farms from reporting air releases of hazardous substances from animal waste. On April 11, 2017, the D.C. Circuit Court vacated this final rule.

Farms, however, remained exempt because of legislative changes in the Fair Agricultural Reporting Method Act, which was signed into law on March 23. The final rule makes regulatory revisions to reflect changes to CERCLA enacted in the FARM Act. The agency also removed the 2008 definitions of “farm” and “animal waste” from its regulations and added revised definitions of these terms to CERCLA regulations that correspond with the FARM Act.

For more information, visit the EPA website.

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