DC:
A California farmer fined $2.8 million for plowing through vernal pools protected by the Clean Water Act without a permit is appealing to the Trump administration for help, according to California’s Record Spotlight.
John Duarte has sent letters to Agriculture secretary Sonny Perdue, as well as Attorney General Jeff Sessions seeking clarification on the federal government’s case against him, the Record Spotlight reports.
While the Clean Water Act protects “waters of the U.S.,” it does contain exemptions for farmers.
“temporary bodies of water”
TEMPORARY? So is my bird bath. Will I get fined when I put it up for the winter?
Trump, please lean (more) on your people in the EPA to rip up ALL of Obama’s regulations. Then take a look at all of the Acts and get rid of those that step on our freedoms and do nothing to protect our safe consumption of natural resources.
Claudia
About 4 years ago the EPA tried to get puddles classified as navigable water ways. Which I was thinking would then put them under the jurisdiction of the Coast Guard. I never understood the motive for that move.
Vernal pool = seasonal mud puddle where disease ridden mosquitoes breed.
So, if he just purchased the land and it was dry enough to plow how was he supposed to know it was a puddle?
We have a ‘saddle’ in some hills right at the Tennessee-Georgia border on our pipeline right of way. One year, some water got trapped and some cattails grew.
This area is now and has been for over 15 years, a “wetland”. It has special markers at the boundaries designating it such. I have not seen a single cattail grow in all that time since.
Let us use correct terminology: Those may haven “protected puddles”, or not!
How abouto the federal government not bothering law-abiding Americans on their own property. This man’s 4th, 9th & 10th amendment rights have been flagrantly violated by a vvindictive, over-bearing federal government
EPA officials would be the first on my Tar and Feather list were I Emperor