https://www.uschamber.com/environment-agriculture

Environment and Agriculture Committee

This committee develops Chamber policy related to the environment, agriculture, chemicals, and water. Specifically, it is responsible for developing policies (other than the Clean Air Act and climate change) concerning the regulation of environmental quality, water quality, Superfund, solid waste, food safety, and nanotechnology to ensure that these regulations are efficiently undertaken and based on sound science and the best data available, consider health risks, and avoid unnecessary burdens. The committee advocates for an effective environmental policy that continues the long-standing trend of improved environmental quality, avoids economic harm, and works to promote regulatory reforms and other safeguards against regulatory abuses by administrative agencies.

About the Committee

The Environment & Agriculture Committee develops Chamber policy related to the environment, agriculture, chemicals, and water. Specifically, it is responsible for developing policies (other than the Clean Air Act and climate change) concerning the regulation of environmental quality, water quality, Superfund, solid waste, food safety, and nanotechnology to ensure that these regulations are efficiently undertaken and based on sound science and the best data available, consider actual health risks, and avoid unnecessary burdens. The committee advocates for an effective environmental policy that does not harm the economy, and works to promote regulatory reforms and other safeguards against regulatory abuses by administrative agencies.

Issue Areas

Environment

Environmental Quality
Environmental Audits
Clean Water Act
Surface Water Quality
Groundwater
Waste Management
Superfund
Brownfields
Noise Emission Standards
Toxic Substances and Nanotechnology
Disclosure of Hazardous Substance Information
Marine and Estuarine Sanctuaries
Invasive Species
Coal Production and Transportation

Public Lands Management

Land Use Planning
Access Roads
Land Surveys
Payments in Lieu of Taxes
Adjudication of Administrative Decisions
Withdrawals and Reservations
Wilderness Areas
Buffer Zones
Non-Mineral Resources (forestry)
Nonfuel Minerals

For questions, please contact the Global Energy Institute at 202-463-5558.

Recent Activity

LetterNov 27, 2018 - 11:00am

Water Infrastructure Provisions in the Farm Bill Reauthorization

This letter was sent to the Chairs and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, on water infrastructure provisions in the Farm Bill reauthorizations.

CommentAug 27, 2018 - 12:30pm

Comments on Proposed Action: Clean Water Act Hazardous Substances Spill Prevention

Submitted via www.regulations.gov August 24, 2018 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EPA Docket Center Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OLEM-2018-0024 Mailcode: 28221T 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20460

CommentAug 20, 2018 - 5:15pm

Comments on Availability of Draft Toxicological Profile: Perfluoroalkyls

CH A M B E R O F CO M M E R C E O F T H E UN I T E D ST A T E S O F AM E R I C A 1615 H ST R E E T, NW WA S H I N G T O N, DC 20062 ( 2 0 2 ) 463-5310 August 20, 2018 VIA ELECTRONIC FILING

CommentAug 20, 2018 - 5:00pm

Comments on Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act

CH A M B E R O F CO M M E R C E O F T H E UN I T E D ST A T E S O F AM E R I C A NE I L L. BR A D L E Y EX E C U T I V E VI C E PR E S I D E N T & CH I E F PO L I C Y OF F I C E R 1615 H ST R E E T, NW WA S H I N G T O N, DC 20062 ( 2 0 2 ) 463-5310 August 20, 2018 VIA ELECTRONIC FILING

CommentAug 16, 2018 - 2:30pm

Problem Formulation Documents and General Guiding Risk Evaluation Principles"

The attached comments were submitted today to EPA regarding its notice, “Problem Formulations for the Risk Evaluations To Be Conducted Under the Toxic Substances Control Act, and General Guiding Principles To Apply Systematic Review in TSCA Risk Evaluations; Notice of Availability.”

CommentAug 14, 2018 - 10:30am

Comments of the Waters Advocacy Coalition on the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to Repeal the 2015 Clean Water Rule and Recodify the Pre-Existing Rules

The Waters Advocacy Coalition (“WAC” or “Coalition”) writes to provide comments in support of the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (“Corps”) (together, “the Agencies”) supplemental proposed rulemaking to repeal the 2015 Clean Water Rule (“2015 Rule” or “Rule”) and recodify the definition of “waters of the United States” (“WOTUS”) in place prior to the 2015 Rule. 83 Fed. Reg. 32,227 (July 12, 2018) (“Supplemental Repeal Notice”). The Coalition represents a large cross-section of the nation’s construction, real estate, mining, manufacturing, forestry, agriculture, energy, wildlife conservation, and public health and safety sectors – all of which are vital to a thriving national economy and provide much needed jobs. The Coalition’s members are committed to the protection and restoration of America’s wetlands and waters, and possess a wealth of expertise directly relevant to the Agencies’ supplemental proposal to repeal the 2015 Rule.

CommentAug 14, 2018 - 10:15am

Definition of “Waters of the United States”—Recodification of Preexisting Rule; Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

The undersigned organizations support the Environmental Protection Agency’s (“EPA”) and the Army Corps of Engineers’ (“Corps”) proposal to repeal the 2015 Rule Defining Waters of the United States (“2015 Rule”), and many of us are submitting individual comment letters detailing our reasons for supporting the proposal. We write this letter to separately address an issue of particular importance to all of us: the effect of the Supreme Court’s decision in Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 531 U.S. 159 (2001) (“SWANCC”). As EPA and the Corps move forward with this rulemaking, the agencies must recognize the limitations SWANCC imposes on jurisdiction.

Above the FoldJul 09, 2018 - 4:30pm

‘I Feel Like We’re the Pawns:’ Meet 3 Michigan Small Businesses Already Hurt by Tariffs

More than $2.3 billion in Michigan exports are vulnerable due to the emerging trade war, leaving business owners paying the bill.

Max Nelson

CommentJul 09, 2018 - 11:00am

National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard Comments

Chamber members operate at all stages of the nation’s food supply chain and many food products marketed today contain bioengineered (BE) ingredients. It is imperative that AMS promulgates a standard that provides regulatory certainty for the food supply chain, allows consumers to obtain more information if they want it, and protects the biotechnology industry from harmful and stigmatizing mandatory warning labels.

ArticleJun 08, 2018 - 10:15am

A Federal Standard: Solving the State-by-State Patchwork of Product Labeling Laws

Changes to federal law will ensure that consumers continue to benefit from the nutritional and allergy information on packaging.

Jake Tyner