Press

Apr 11 2013

FISCHER RAISES EPA DISCLOSURE OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION & OVERREGULATION AT MCCARTHY HEARING

Highlights Constituent Input on Need for Regulatory Reform

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), member of the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), today participated in the confirmation hearing of President Obama’s nominee to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Gina McCarthy. Fischer used the hearing to highlight the EPA's recent disclosure of personal contact information, including the names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of concentrated animal feeding operators (CAFOs) to environmental groups. Previously, Senator Fischer had written the EPA requesting answers regarding the agency's blatant disregard for personal privacy concerns of small businesses, farmers, and ranchers through misapplication of FOIA.

Watch Sen. Fischer Question Ms. McCarthy on the EPA's disclosure of confidential information HERE:

Fischer also raised concerns expressed by her constituents regarding burdensome federal overregulation and misguided regulatory mandates imposed by the EPA. Several weeks ago, Senator Fischer launched a constituent outreach effort, “Rolling Back Regulations: Nebraskans Speak Out.” The online forum allows Nebraskans to voice specific ways federal overregulation is adversely impacting their businesses, farms and ranches.

At the hearing, Senator Fischer shared with Ms. McCarthy a constituent e-mail submitted by Val Ebberson of Coleridge, Neb., describing her experience with compliance challenges stemming from the EPA’s Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule regulating on-farm fuel storage.

Watch Sen. Fischer Highlight Coleridge, Nebraska resident, Val Ebberson's story HERE:

To address this problem directly, Senator Fischer has introduced bipartisan legislation, the Farmers Undertake Environmental Land Stewardship Act (FUELS Act), to modify the SPCC rule to better reflect the spill risk and financial resources of farms. These reasonable changes are projected to save producers up to $3.4 billion. More information on the FUELS Act can be found HERE.

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