New Waters of the US Rule May Take Several Years to Complete, says Strain

By Don Molino, The Voice of Louisiana Agriculture Radio Network

During his report on the Voice of Louisiana Agriculture Radio Network, Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Dr. Mike Strain said the Food Safety Modernization Act under the Food and Drug Administration will be administered by the State Departments of Agriculture.  Strain is serving as president of that organization this year.

Strain also said the US needs a new trade representative soon because trade is key to both Louisiana and US agriculture “as we open and expanded our markets, especially with china, Brazil, Mexico and Canada.”

The Trump Administration is seeking state input on a new Waters of the US Rule.  “The EPA and Army Corps of Engineers both are asking governors for advice on what a new Waters of the US Rule should look like,” said the commissioner.

Strain met a couple of weeks ago at the White House with EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. “We had a very specific and frank discussion of what the new Waters of the US Rule should look like,” Strain said.

“We have one in place now so we have to draft a new rule to replace the current rule.  It’s been stayed in the courts for over two years and the proposed rule will be based on an opinion from the US Supreme Court in 2015.  And it will probably take several years to complete,” according to Strain.