Greeting New Leadership
Agriculture groups had an opportunity to meet with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler at the Iowa State Fair on Monday, August 13. The invite-only roundtable meeting provided an opportunity for the groups to ask Wheeler questions. This was Wheeler first trip to Iowa as acting administrator of the EPA.
Attending on behalf of the Agribusiness Association of Iowa (AAI) members were Mark Morrissey, AAI Board Chair, and CEO of United Services Association; Dave Tierney, AAI Past Chair and Regulatory Affairs Manager for Monsanto; Joel Brinkmeyer, AAI CEO.
Current Topics Both National and Local Issues
An underlying theme of Wheeler’s comments was providing certainty to the rules, using common sense, and using sound science. While many questions revolved around ethanol and the Renewable Fuels Standard, Wheeler also addressed WOTUS and dicamba labeling. Wheeler noted that label questions for dicamba will be settled this November so that farmers and agribusinesses can make decisions for the 2019 growing season. He also said that the WOTUS rule will be finalized in the next 60 days, which will then open the period of public comment. Wheeler promised a clear-cut rule with a well-defined jurisdiction for WOTUS.
Wheeler was joined by a number of state and regional officials including Governor Kim Reynolds, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, Iowa Department of Natural Resources Director Bruce Trautman, Congressman David Young (R-IA), and EPA Region 7 Administrator Jim Guilliford.
Watch coverage on the Agribusiness Report.
