Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Farmers received no relief from a new Farm Bill in 2012, but one senator from Nebraska has introduced a bipartisan regulatory relief for Nebraska farmers that could save producers up to $3.4 billion.
Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) announced that she has introduced the Farmer’s Undertake Environmental Land Steward (FUELS Act) that would modify the rules set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The current Oil Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule applies to any facility that has a fuel storage capacity of more than 1,320 gallons. This applies to the majority of Nebraska farms.
“These misguided rule changes have a direct, adverse impact on producers who must now deal with the compliance costs and paperwork required, or face stiff fines and penalties from the EPA. I am pleased to offer a bipartisan legislative solution that raises the exemption levels for fuel storage capacity to better reflect the spill risk and financial resources of farms,” Fischer said.
Senator Fischer spoke out in August 2012 about her concern over the failure of the House to pass a bipartisan Farm Bill. “In the midst of one of the worst droughts in recent memory, it is time for the House to stop playing politics and pass a five-year Farm Bill that provides both short-term relief and long-term certainty for America’s farmers and ranchers.”
Nebraska Senator Mike Johanns stated in January that if a new Farm Bill could not be created in 2013, the government would have to work on finding other ways to help support farmers. The proposed legislation would save producers up to $3.4 billion by exempting farms from SPCC requirements if their aggregate oil storage capacity is 10,000 gallons or less and the farms have no history of spills. The bill will also increase the oil storage threshold to determine whether a professional engineer must certify a facility’s SPCC plan.
Senator Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) and Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.) joined Senator Fischer in introducing the legislation.
The current Farm Bill remains in place until September 30 and the EPA’s SPCC rules go into effect on May 10.
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