(NAFB) – Agriculture breathed a sigh of relief when Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan told lawmakers the agency would not go back to the controversial Obama-era definitions of Waters of the U.S.

Many in agriculture found the Obama-era WOTUS rule to be a far overreach of federal government authority and the source of overly burdensome regulation and oversight. Regan, the former head of the NC Department of Environmental Quality, made the comments as part of the 2022 Budget Request for EPA during a House Appropriations Subcommittee hearing. Regan says he wants to continue discussions with those in agriculture as the agency moves forward.

The EPA Administrator said his agency and the US Department of Agriculture are working in tandem to both protect the environment and get farmers engaged in the process.

The Rural Water Program was also a topic of conversation. Regan told lawmakers the EPA wants to do more than just throw money at the problems confronting those in rural areas.