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EPA: Clean Water Act Won't Tighten Farm Regulations

The head of the Environmental Protection Agency insists efforts to clarify her agency’s jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act won’t result in tighter farm regulations.

EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy told the Kansas City Agribusiness Council on Thursday that misinformation coming out of Washington has caused confusion about the initiative.

Agriculture groups and farm-state politicians, including Gov. Brownback, have claimed the EPA’s efforts represent a power grab by a government seeking to assert more control over private property.

McCarthy says clarification of the Clean Water Act is necessary because of questions by the U.S. Supreme Court and agricultural stakeholders about what constitutes "waters of the United States."

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