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EPA decided not to raise regulations on dust under the Clean Air Act, and will retain the current standards for coarse particulate matter. NCBA Deputy Environmental Counsel Ashley McDonald says that?s a great victory for cattle producers and rural Americans, but because the rule is scheduled for review in five years, she says this isn’t the last fight over so-called “dust regulation.” She says NCBA will continue to look for a legislative fix, including working with South Dakota Congresswoman Kristi Noem, who has introduced legislation prohibiting regulation of rural dust.
McDonald says, had EPA chosen to increase the standard, agribusiness would have been forced to demonstrate compliance or be subject to fines reaching more than $37,000 per day.
