In Bismarck last Monday afternoon, EPA Assistant Administrator of Water Radhika Fox and Army Corps of Engineers Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Works Jaime Pinkham took input on the Waters of the United States rule. American Farm Bureau Federation Vice President Scott VanderWal called the process “regulatory whiplash that’s very disconcerting.” American Soybean Association Director of Government Affairs Ariel Wiegard told the EPA soybean farmers are frustrated with the cycle of regulation and litigation. “Farmers shouldn’t have to ask the EPA or Army Corps of Engineers every time they want to plow or move dirt on their farms.” The EPA and Army Corps of Engineers reinstated the WOTUS definition from before 2015 and this replaces the Trump administration’s Navigable Waters Protection rule. Once in the Federal Register, there’s a 60-day comment period. The EPA will consider those comments and then, propose a final rule. EPA Assistant Administrator Radhika Fox said the EPA is trying to find common ground. In 2022, the EPA plans to host ten regional roundtable/listening sessions to get more feedback on WOTUS. Hear the story.