In Defense of EPA: Farm Dust Prevention Act

Steve Pearce

Washington, DC (December 8, 2011) Today, Congressman Steve Pearce voted in favor of H.R. 1633, the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act of 2011, which would temporarily halt the EPA’s plans to revise the to place additional restrictions on farm dust that is sometimes kicked up by vehicles or farm equipment on dirt roads.
“The EPA’s actions to further regulate dust are a tremendous overreach that would prohibit New Mexico farmers and ranchers from doing their jobs,” said Pearce. “The dust under consideration here is naturally occurring and the amount produced is controlled by rainfall and blowing winds. If the EPA cannot control those factors, why should we expect our farmers and ranchers to?” "The caucus I Chair, the Congressional Western Caucus, released a Jobs Frontier Report that highlights 40 bills, that will reduce job killing regulations and start to put Americans back to work," Pearce continued. "The Farm Dust bill was highlighted in the report, because this legislation will give farmers and ranchers the certainty they need to continue to invest in their businesses without fear of harsh regulations. Washington’s purpose must be to expand job creation, not to control it so that this country can once again be the America where anything is possible and success is rewarded."

H.R. 1633 provides for a one-year moratorium on the EPA from adding any additional dust regulations already regulated under state, tribal or local law on production agriculture and rural America. The Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act passed the House of Representatives on December 8, 2011 with a final vote of 268-150. Congressman Pearce was the only New Mexico Representative to vote in favor of this bill which supports our farming and ranching communities.

In Defense of EPA: Farm Dust Prevention Act