Oklahoma farmers are applauding the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act, which seeks to limit the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate naturally occurring dust.
The legislation’s passage came after more than a year of concern among farmers and ranchers.
“We are extremely pleased that Congress supports our efforts in this common-sense approach to regulations,” Mike Spradling, president of Oklahoma Farm Bureau, said.
The entire Oklahoma delegation voted for the legislation.
“The proposal to regulate farm dust is one of the most absurd ideas to come out of the EPA in a long time,” Oklahoma’s Fourth District Congressman Tom Cole said.
“Dust is a naturally occurring substance that is impossible to control, especially when the wind blows,” Spradling said. “We were concerned the EPA was attempting to enforce excessive regulations and circumvent Congressional action. This appeared to be just another obstacle to food and fiber production at a time when the world needs everything we can produce.”
The EPA-proposed regulations could have required farmers not to work their fields on windy days and to spray water to keep the dust down as they drive through fields.
“In a state where adequate rainfall is always a concern, these regulations don’t make sense,” Spradling said. “The EPA cannot control Mother Nature.”
