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Farm Bureau favors law blocking dust regulations

The American Farm Bureau is urging lawmakers to pass the so-called Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act. The bill faces a House vote this week. Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman says naturally occurring dust is a fact of life in rural areas, dependent on wind and rain, two conditions that EPA cannot regulate.

The farm organization says the EPA admits it cannot establish a link between “nuisance dust” and adverse human health effects, casting doubt on the validity of additional regulation. However, if such a link is established, the bill allows EPA to regulate.

Meanwhile, Representative John Dingell says the bill will open a hole in the Clean Air Act resulting in polluters attempting to have their emissions classified as “nuisance dust.” Dingell, a Democratic House member from Michigan, says the new definition created by the bill provides ambiguity so that almost any type of particulate matter could be exempted from the Clean Air Act. He also refers to the bill as a solution in search of a problem.

The EPA has said it does not intend to propose stricter regulations on dust. On the other hand, the Farm Bureau says that does not provide enough assurance for farmers and ranchers. Farm Bureau President Stallman says legislation is the best way to provide certainty to farmers, ranchers and rural America that they won’t be unduly regulated by conditions beyond their control.