Senator Rounds Questions EPA Administrator on Prior Converted Cropland Protections

Prior Converted Cropland Exemption

• 📌 The discussion centers on the 'Waters of the United States' (WOTUS) rulemaking and its impact on wetlands drained for farmland prior to 1985.
• 💡 Historically, these lands were exempt from Clean Water Act regulation as long as they were used for agricultural purposes at least once every five years, a definition clarified under the Trump administration.
• ⚠️ The most recent WOTUS rule under the Biden administration ended this exemption immediately upon a change in use, departing from previous flexibility.
• 🌾 Senator Rounds introduced the Farmers Freedom Act to codify the earlier definition of prior converted cropland.

EPA Administrator's Response on WOTUS

• 💬 Administrator Zeldin committed to following up with Senator Rounds on his concerns regarding the definition of prior converted cropland.
• 🤝 He acknowledged the ongoing uncertainty surrounding WOTUS regulations and expressed commitment to working closely with agricultural producers during the rulemaking process.

Clean Water State Revolving Loan Funds

• 📉 Senator Rounds highlighted a $2.46 billion decrease in the proposed budget for the Clean and Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Funds.
• ✅ Administrator Zeldin affirmed that the EPA will follow the law and reappropriate funds as directed by Congress, regardless of administration policy priorities.
• 🏛️ He emphasized that if Congress creates new statutory obligations through legislation, the agency will fulfill them.