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Grassley on more EPA privacy concerns

Concerns about farm data privacy have surfaced again with the EPA’s proposal to require farms to electronically file reports for national pollution discharge elimination, or NPDES, permits.  A second hearing was held on the matter this week.

Iowa Senator and Agriculture Committee member Charles Grassley told reporters that the EPA is turning a blind eye to the interests of agriculture and rural America…

“Small animal feeding operations can be required to get permits if they’re located around Waters of the United States. Therefore, it’s possible, many small farmers could be required to comply with this rule in the future. Clearly, there is reason to be concerned over what the EPA is doing.”

According to DTN, the EPA says it is the same information that is already available publicly now – further reporting that the EPA changed course so the new rule will provide privacy protection to some CAFOs and animal feeding operations.  Grassley says he’ll continue to monitor the EPA and pursue every avenue to protect farmers’ private data. He has pending legislation to do that. The proposal is open for public comment through mid-January.

AUDIO:  Excerpt from Senator Charles Grassley’s (R-IA) conference call on December 2, 2014 (4:00 mp3):