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EPA's Role in Agriculture: Water Quality Management & Planning

Learn about EPA's priorities, guiding philosophies, and the role of agriculture in water quality management. Discover the key causes of impairments and the importance of collaboration in the agricultural sector.

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EPA's Role in Agriculture: Water Quality Management & Planning

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  1. EPA’s Role with Agriculture Randy Rush Region 6 Agriculture Policy Advisor Lower Rio Grande Valley 19th Annual Water Quality Management & Planning Conference

  2. EPA Priorities: High-level Overview Guiding Philosophies • Rule of law: EPA’s work won’t go anywhere if it constantly faces legal challenges. By administering laws enacted by Congress and issuing environmental rules tethered to those statutes, EPA can achieve so much more for the protection of human health and our environment. • Cooperative federalism: States and tribes are our partners in enforcing environmental laws and programs—EPA wants to build trust and a strong working relationship with these partners to get results for all Americans. • Public participation: EPA’s authority is derived from the democratic process, and that process is made more credible by engaging with the diverse views of the American public, and addressing stakeholder input on the impacts of rules on families, jobs, and communities.

  3. BUILDING A STRONGER EPA Broaden participation by EPA’s workforce in collaborating with our state and tribal partners to transform environmental service delivery Ensuring Sound Science and ResearchGround EPA’s research in core mission—aligning research with statutes and priorities of state and tribesEnsure sound procedures for conducting scientific studies and cost benefit analyses—from data gathering and peer reviews through publication of results, safeguarding public trust in EPA

  4. EPA Authorities: Agriculture

  5. EPA’s Agriculture Infrastructure • Sr. Ag Policy Advisor to the Administrator • Regional Ag Advisors • Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities [FRRCC] • EPA Ag Issues Forum • EPA Ag Center – Kansas City • Regional Program Staff Specialists

  6. Role of Regional Ag Advisor • Resource: By being knowledgeable on all EPA programs and policies that are integral to the Ag sector; In turn, keep abreast of programs and policies of our agriculture partners • Communicator: Be conduit of information exchange between EPA [Sr. Management, Divisions] HQ Ag Advisor and Partners • Collaborator: By representing EPA at commodity meetings, USDA State Tech meetings, State Ag officials

  7. Agriculture Sector: Key Partners

  8. Overview: Agriculture within our Region Agriculture: • Top land use category • Number 1 contributor of water quality pollution • Top recipient of CWA 319(h) funds Key Points: • Need for strong participation by all agencies and entities • Watershed planning and implementation is essential

  9. Significant Causes of Impairments Agricultural Effects to the Environment in R6 REGION 6 Probable Sources Contributing to Impairments From ATTAINS Database

  10. Ammonia Emissions from Animal Agriculture

  11. Major Stressors on Surface and Groundwater from Agriculture • Air • Row and Livestock • Particulate matter • Ammonia/methane • Surface Water • Row Crop • Herbicides/pesticides • Nutrients/sediment • Livestock: CAFOs/AFOs • Nutrients • Bacteria • Groundwater • Row crops • Nitrates in groundwater

  12. Agriculture is the Predominant Nutrient Source to Gulf • Ag contributes more than70% of the N and Pdelivered to the Gulf • AtmDep contributes16%of N • Urban sources representonly 9-12% • Watersheds contributing highest load include Central Mississippi and Ohio (IL, IA, IN, IS, AR, KY, TN, OH, MS) • Greatest reduction in load to the Gulf predicted from targeting sources near large rivers or small streams that flow quickly to large rivers Source: USGS SPARROW Model for Mississippi/Atchafalaya Basin

  13. NRCS MISSISSIPPI RIVER BASIN INITIATIVE • NRCS MRBI Announcement to Reduce Nutrients • $320M to Implement Practices • 12 River States, Priority Watersheds • Four Year Effort • Accelerate Existing Pgms w/$ • Monitor Effectiveness • Region 6 States of AR & LA

  14. MRBI Priority Watersheds in Region 6

  15. Biogas Projects 242 operational projects in the U.S. (May 2016) •196 Dairy •39 Hog •7 Poultry •7 Beef •7 Mixed Note: Totals sum to more than 242 because some projects accept manure from more than one animal type. Benefits in 2015 Direct and indirect GHG emissions avoided: 3.0 MMTCO2e Energy generated: 981 million kWh

  16. Local Foods, Local Places Supports locally led, community-driven efforts to protect air and water quality, preserve open space and farmland, boost economic opportunities for local farmers and businesses, improve access to healthy local food, and promote childhood wellness. https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/local-foods-local-places#background

  17. EPA’s Homeland Security Roles that interface with Ag • Emergency response, decontamination, cleanup and recovery. • Drinking water and wastewater infrastructure protection, including from chemical, biological and radiological events. • Other EPA program obligations, such as those related to food and agriculture (pesticide and antimicrobial testing, registration and emergency exemptions). • National homeland security policy development. • Research.

  18. Food and Ag Groups that EPA participates in under Homeland Security Banner: • Food and Agriculture Sector – Government Coordinating Council. Co-chaired by USDA and FDA. • Foreign Animal Disease Threat Workgroup, Committee on Homeland and National Security, Office of Science and Technology Policy • Co-chair with APHIS of the Depopulation, Decontamination, and Waste Management sub-group. • Food and Ag Incident Annex Core Planning Team – Led by FEMA. • FSMA 108 – National Food and Ag Defense Strategy – Led by FDA • National Biosurveillance Integration System – Led by DHS

  19. Current/Recent Food and Ag Activities • Current: • Evaluation of progress in meeting FMSA 208 requirements • Food and Ag Incident Annex • DHS S&T Gap Solicitation Process • Recent • Zika Virus: OCSPP/OPP active with the CDC-led Federal government team, primarily on aircraft disinfection pesticide issues. • 2015 U.S. Avian Influenza Outbreak – technical consultation on decontamination, composting, waste management

  20. EPA’s Potential Role in Supporting Soil Health FRRCC Report to the Administrator , 2016 • This action can both advance its mission and help transform the Agency’s engagement with agriculture. Moving forward, the Agency needs to encourage the participation of farmers, ranchers and producers in the sustained delivery of essential environmental services. “EPA should not regulate how soil health is managed”

  21. SOIL HEALTH IS CONSIDERING SOIL BIOLOGY AND FUNCTION IN MANAGEMENT!

  22. Conflicting interests - Range landuse vs. ESA: New Mexico Hopping Mouse

  23. Restored waters that were partially or fully funded by CWA 319h funds ; in addition to contributions of partner organizations. https://www.epa.gov/nps/nonpoint-source-success-stories

  24. Sustaining Life’s Future • Contact Information • Randy Rush • US EPA R6 • 1445 Ross Ave • Dallas, Texas, 75202 • 214-665-7107 • rush.randall@epa.gov

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