Posted December 6, 2013
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced an expanded partnership to support water quality trading and other market-based approaches that provide benefits to the environment and improve compliance with the Clean Water Act, according to a USDA news release available here. Farm Futures also reported on the story here.
“New water quality trading markets hold incredible potential to benefit rural America by providing new income opportunities and enhancing conservation of water and wildlife habitat,” said Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. “Additionally, these efforts will strengthen businesses across the nation by providing a new pathway to comply with the regulatory requirements.”
Trading would allow regulated entities to purchase and use pollutant reduction credits generated by other sources in a watershed as a cost-effective approach for regulated entities to comply with Clean Water Act requirements.
Through this partnership, USDA and EPA will coordinate and enhance communications and outreach efforts, engage experts, share information on the development of rules and guidance that may affect water quality trading, collaborate on developing tools and information resources, and co-host a workshop by 2015.
For more information on water law and the clean water act, please visit the National Agricultural Law Center here and here.
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