• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

To Honor and Protect the Ranching Way of Life

  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • Why Join
    • Leadership
    • Staff
    • Partners
    • FAQs
    • Newsroom
    • Sponsorships
    • Employment
  • What We Do
    • Theft and Law
    • Issues and Policy
    • Education
    • Students and Young Professionals
    • The Cattleman Magazine
    • Disaster Relief Fund
    • Cattle Raisers Insurance
    • Cattle Raisers Trading Co
  • Events
    • Cattle Raisers Convention
    • Policy Conference
    • Summer Meeting
    • Ranch Gatherings
    • Ranching 101
  • Join
  • Member Center
  • TSCRA Store
  • Show Search
Hide Search

House votes to protect private property rights, halting EPA and Army Corps' land grab

Source: National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 5078 Waters of the United States Regulatory Overreach Protection Act of 2014 Wednesday, Sept. 10, in an attempt to halt the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ proposed “Waters of the United States” rule. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the Public Lands Council (PLC) applaud the efforts of Rep. Southerland, R-Fla., to block what is described as the largest federal land grab to date.
“As a small business owner and [part of] a family that is also in the timber business, I understand regulatory creep and what we have seen through the EPA and the Corps of Engineers is the very definition of regulatory creep,” said Southerland. “The old rule was adjacent wetlands to navigable waters. Now it’s all waters adjacent to wetlands, adjacent to navigable waters. This really facilitates a capture of private property using the Clean Water Act and this onerous authority as a tool for imminent domain.”
Under current regulation, states have primary responsibility for regulating waters within their boundaries and twice the Unites States Supreme Court has reaffirmed this authority. The proposed rule strips this balance and expands federal jurisdiction to nearly every water in the country, including ditches, puddles and ponds. Southerland’s bill, which prevents EPA and Corps from finalizing, implementing, adopting or enforcing the proposed rule, has the bipartisan support of 120 co-sponsors.
Ashley McDonald, NCBA environmental counsel, said just as importantly to farmers and ranchers, this bill invalidates the interpretative rule which was published alongside the “Waters of the United States” proposal in an attempt to clarify the “normal farming, silviculture and ranching activities” exemptions under Sec. 404 of the Clean Water Act.
“The interpretive rule actually narrows the scope of what is considered normal farming and ranching practices,” said McDonald. “Practices such as building a fence or grazing cattle have previously never needed a permit. However, without approval of the Natural Resource Conversation Service, producers could face up to $37,500 in fines, per day. This is far from Congressional intent and puts farmers and ranchers livelihoods in jeopardy.”
NCBA and PLC strongly encourage the Senate to take up this bill and protect the rights of private property owners across the country. See more at http://www.beefusa.org/newsreleases1.aspx?newsid=4420#sthash.JuVBRhXZ.dpuf

Written by:
kristin
Published on:
September 10, 2014

Categories: General

Recent Posts

TSCRA commends USDA’s continued border closure to combat spread of New World screwworm

July 10, 2025

FORT WORTH, Texas (July 9, 2025)— Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association President Carl …

Continue Reading about TSCRA commends USDA’s continued border closure to combat spread of New World screwworm

Crime watch: Black Angus bull missing in Coleman County

July 9, 2025

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Ranger HD Brittain, District 19 in West …

Continue Reading about Crime watch: Black Angus bull missing in Coleman County

Texas Ranch Receives Regional Environmental Stewardship Award

July 9, 2025

SAN DIEGO (July 8, 2025) – McFaddin Ranch in Victoria, Texas, was recognized today by the National …

Continue Reading about Texas Ranch Receives Regional Environmental Stewardship Award

Footer

Who We Are

Why Join
Leadership
Staff
Partners
FAQs
Newsroom
Sponsorships
Employment

What We Do

Theft and Law
Issues and Policy
Education
Students and Young Professionals
The Cattleman Magazine
Cattle Raisers Insurance
Cattle Raisers Trading Co.
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

Information

Cattle Raisers Blog
News Releases
Bereavements
Events
Sponsorships & Advertisement
Tip Hotline
Get Involved
Links

Membership

Membership Center
Membership Center Instructions
Join
Renew
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

PO BOX 101988
FORT WORTH, TX 76185

1-800-242-7820

© 2023 Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association; All Rights Reserved.

COPYRIGHT | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS OF USE