By RACHEL LANE D.C. Correspondent WASHINGTON, D.C. — Limiting paperwork, better communication and regulation guidelines were part of the discussion of regulation reform at the USDA last week. The Regulatory Reform Listening Session on Sept. 19 was part of a series that USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue is hosting to learn what regulations can be changed or removed. The meetings are to help the agency comply with Presidential Executive Order 13777 on reducing regulation and controlling regulatory costs. Perdue has invited members of the agricultural community to post public comments, speak with USDA representatives and talk to ag groups about regulations. A first comment period ran during the summer. Based on the comments and conversations, the second public comment period is in effect until Nov. 14. Two additional rounds of public comments are planned before next summer. “I didn't realize until I got to Washington that the unwinding of laws was just as complicated as the formation of them,” Perdue said. Rebecca Adcock, senior advisor to the secretary and USDA regulatory reform officer, said the purpose of the meeting was to review regulations. Perdue’s goals for the USDA would make the agency efficient, effective and at the lowest cost to taxpayers. To that end, there are five principal focuses: reduce regulations; effective and efficient regulation; due process; fair notice and transparency; and respect for individual rights and property. Due process references the focus of the agency to stay within the intent of the law, and be practical and meaningful with decisions. Adcock said the process also references the need to make stakeholders know what rights they have in different circumstances. She said the best thing anyone can do is leave a comment for the USDA. The quality of messages is important – what problems is the regulation addressing or causing? The quantity of messages do matter, too. She said everyone in the USDA has a customer, whether it is a co-worker waiting on the information or a farmer in the field. The meeting had representatives from the National Assoc. of Conservation Districts, NTCA-The Rural Broadband Assoc., National Rural Electric Cooperative Assoc., National Assoc. of State Departments of Agriculture and about 30 other industry organizations. “This exercise in regulatory reform has really given us an opportunity and given our members … incentive to reach out to us about what’s been happening on the ground,” said Danielle Quist, senior counsel for public policy with the American Farm Bureau Federation. At one point, the EPA, Army Corps of Engineers and the USDA worked well together, but that has stopped, she said. She requests the USDA take a leadership role to unify the government policies on issues like wetlands and prior converted croplands. Addressing specific concerns, Perdue said the USDA is working to encourage the different government organizations to communicate better, reduce the time it takes to get permits, decrease the amount of paperwork and provide focus for broad laws and use facts, data and science to lead the agency. “No one is against safe food, but looking at some of the things, we have to look at the cost benefit of those,” Perdue said, citing the Endangered Species Act and the Clean Water Act. He wants the USDA to be a realistic advocate for the agricultural industry. To access the site for public comments, visit http://bit.ly/2yQJZSP |
