Interpretive Rule Regarding Applicability Of The Exemption Under Section 404(f)(1)(A) Of The Clean Water Act To Certain Agricultural Conservation Practices

Attached is a request that the 45-day period to comment on the Notice of Availability Regarding the Exemption from Permitting Under Section 404(f)(1)(A) of the Clean Water Act to Certain Agricultural Conservation Practices, 79 Fed. Reg. 22,276 (April 21, 2014) be extended beyond the June 5, 2014, comment deadline by at least an additional 45 days but preferably to coincide with the closing of the comment period on the underlying Waters of the United States proposal filed by the National Pork Producers Council on behalf of the following 73 national and state agricultural groups. National Pork Producers Council American Farm Bureau Federation Agricultural Retailers Association American Horse Council American Soybean Association Croplife America National Association of Wheat Growers National Barley Growers Association National Cattlemen's Beef Association National Chicken Council National Corn Growers Association National Council of Farmer Cooperatives National Sunflower Association The Fertilizer Institute United Egg Producers U.S. Canola Association U.S. Cattlemen's Association U.S. Dry Bean Council U.S. Poultry and Egg USA Rice Federation Agri-Mark Dairy Cooperative Arkansas Pork Producers Association California Association of Winegrape Growers California Milk Producers Association Colorado Pork Producers Council Dairy Producers of Utah Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc. Exotic Wildlife Association Georgia Pork Producers Association Idaho Dairymen's Association Illinois Pork Producers Association Indiana Pork Iowa Pork Producers Association Kansas Pork Association Kentucky Pork Producers Association Maine Hog Growers Association Michigan Pork Producers Association Minnesota Pork Producers Association Missouri Dairy Association Missouri Pork Producers Association Mississippi Pork Producers Association Nebraska Pork Producers Association, Inc. New York Pork Producers Cooperative North Carolina Pork Council, Inc. Northeast Dairy Farmers Cooperatives Ohio Pork Producers Council Oklahoma Pork Council Oregon Association of Nurseries Oregon Dairy Farmers Association Plains Cotton Growers, Inc. Riverside & Landowners Protection Coalition St. Albans Cooperative Creamery South Dakota Pork Producers Council South East Dairy Farmers Association South Texas Cotton and Grain Association Tennessee Pork Producers Association Texas Association of Dairymen Texas Cattle Feeders Association Texas Forestry Association Texas Pork Producers Association Texas Poultry Federation Texas Sheep & Goat Raisers Association Turfgrass Producers of Texas Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc. Utah Pork Producers Association Virginia Farm Bureau Virginia Pork Industry Association Virginia Poultry Federation Illinois Pork Producers Council Western United Dairymen West Virginia Pork Producers Council Wisconsin Pork Producers Association The current comment period, for a proposal directly addressing agricultural impacts, occurs entirely during the spring planting season and provides no meaningful opportunity for the agricultural community to comment on its potential impacts. If you have any questions, please contact Michael Formica at the National Pork Producers Council at 202-347-3600