EPA has established a new office to handle its relations with farmers and ranchers, a key constituency that can be a trouble spot for the agency.
EPA Administrator Michael Regan announced the creation of his agency’s first-ever Office of Agriculture and Rural Affairs alongside Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack at the 2024 Commodity Classic in Houston on Friday. The agricultural sector is a high priority for the agency and deals with high-profile EPA regulations on what wetlands and streams fall under the Clean Water Act as well as ethanol-blended fuel.
Regan said in a statement that farmers and ranchers are the agency’s partners in delivering clean air and water as well as addressing climate change.
“With the launch of this new office, we are ensuring agricultural and rural stakeholders will continue to have a seat at the table for many years to come,” Regan said.
