Senator John Hoeven and Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring say North Dakota needs a durable Waters of the United States rule that respects private property and maintains agricultural productivity. Hoeven underscored the importance of rebuilding a workable policy, saying, “we want to thank President Trump and the Trump administration and (EPA Administrator) Lee Zeldin for taking out that rule and now we are going to go back and we are going to do it right.” Goehring said the proposed rule is a significant improvement. “Past WOTUS rules harmed law-abiding farmers and ranchers who own and manage about 90 percent of the land in North Dakota,” Goehring said. “This new proposal cuts red tape and reduces permitting costs, but it must be made even clearer so producers do not need lawyers or engineers just to plow, plant, or build fences on dry ground.”
