Document wqo2eb7K466Yv9grKxr5B6264

To: Dravis, Samantha[dravis.samantha@epa.gov] From: EPA Press Office Sent: Thur 8/10/2017 11:26:51 AM Subject: Coverage From Pruitt's Visit To Iowa And North Dakota Coverage From EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt's Visit To Iowa And North Dakota The reports that EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt said the Obama administration created uncertainty for farmers and ranchers. "Pruitt told The Des Moines Register in an interview Tuesday that the EPA's goal in revising the regulation is to provide an objective definition for every property owner in the country. The Obama administration created uncertainty, he added, raising the question, for example, whether a puddle or a dry creek bed could be declared a water of the United States. The EPA chief also said he sees activity throughout the country to address nutrient reduction to improve water quality. 'I sense a tremendous amount of...... ownership, commitment and desire to address these matters; industries and state regulators are working together; EPA should facilitate that, EPA should be a part of that,' Pruitt said." The reports that Pruitt held a roundtable with Governor Reynolds, Senator Grassley and Senator Ernst about WOTUS. "Pruitt was in Des Moines on Tuesday as part of a 25 state tour. During his Iowa stop, he appeared at a roundtable discussion with Gov. Kim Reynolds, Iowa agriculture secretary Bill Northey, U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, and leaders with the Iowa Farm Bureau. During an interview Tuesday morning before the event, Pruitt talked about the EPA's effort under Republican President Donald Trump to rewrite a water regulation rule created in 2015 under Democratic President Barack Obama." In an interview with , Pruitt says it's his goal to provide "regulatory clarity." "The Environmental Protection Agency's administrator is in Iowa today for meetings with farmers and state officials. Iowa is the 18th state Scott Pruitt has visited as his agency considers a new `Waters of the U.S.' rule to replace regulations drafted by the Obama Administration, but put on hold by the courts. `When the EPA defines a `Waters of the United States' as being a puddle, a dry creek bed and an ephemeral drainage ditch, then clearly they were misplaced,' Pruitt said this morning, `and they have not provided great certainty to landowners.'" Governor Kim Reynolds said that Pruitt promised to partner, not dictate to farmers. As reports: "The governor said Pruitt indicated the new regulations would define what areas are not under federal jurisdiction. A court suspended the "Waters of the U.S." rules written by the Obama Administration before they took effect, but Reynolds said farmers delayed conservation measures and other land improvements because of the uncertainty about what might come next. 'Dramatically had an impact on our ability to move forward with conservation practices for not only water quality, Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00007246-00001 for soil health,' she said during a news conference." Additionally, Senator Grassley and Senator Ernst hope the federal government will work with state and local leaders on rewriting this rule. As reports: "Senator Grassley says the current WOTUS rule doesn't take family farms into consideration. `What I get from this meeting we had today is the (family farmer) is a core principle of this administration through President Trump,' Grassley said, `and being delivered through the outstanding work of the administrator of the EPA, Pruitt.' Meanwhile, Senator Ernst hopes the federal government will work with state and local leaders on the rewriting process." The reports that Pruitt praised our farmers and ranchers for being conservationists and environmentalists. "Pruitt said farmers and other landowners have a natural incentive to maintain healthy water and environment. `People presume that by withdrawing the old rule and providing a substitute definition that there's going to be a dearth of regulation or a dearth of oversight with respect to water quality,' Pruitt said. `One of the things that we've got to keep in mind is that farmers and ranchers, as an example, are our first conservationists and environmentalists. The greatest asset they have is the land.'" TWEETS ... THE FRONT PAGE ... ||||j|Jtf||^ |i|gf|S^^ Unsubscribe Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00007246-00002