President signs into law revisions to the EPA rules supporting Maine Farmers

U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) is applauding revisions in the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014, which President Obama signed into law on June 10, 2014, that modify Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules to ease compliance for farms across Maine. Specifically, the modification shields Maine farmers from having to comply with rules aimed at large-scale oil companies. The issue was raised by Maine potato farmers during a meeting with Senator King last year.

"It's just common sense - when we see a regulation aimed at one industry inadvertently impacting another, we fix it. And that's what we did," said Senator King. "As a result, farmers across Maine won't have to worry about purchasing new, expensive equipment or hiring a consultant to design a plan they don't even need. Instead, they can continue to do what they do best - grow local, fresh food and help drive economic activity."

Under the EPA's proposed Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule, many farmers in Maine and around the country who have oil and gas tanks on their farms would be required to hire a certified Professional Engineer to design a Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Plan, like a major oil refineries. It would also require farmers to purchase new capital equipment to comply with the rule, including dual containment tanks on farm trucks and fuel storage units.

However, a provision in the Water Resources Reform and Development Act authored by Senator Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) and cosponsored by Senator King exempts farms with aggregate above ground storage of 2,500 gallons or less. It also allows farmers who have between 6,001-20,000 gallons of above ground storage capacity to self-certify their own plans, saving farmers tens of thousands of dollars. The President signed the provision as well as the rest of the bill into law today.

King is a strong proponent of targeted and effective regulations. Last year, he introduced the Regulatory Improvement Act with Senator Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), which would create a commission to review outdated regulations with the goal of modifying, consolidating, or repealing them in order to reduce compliance costs, encourage growth and innovation,and improve competitiveness.