FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 2025
KNRC Applauds EPA Withdrawal of Harmful Rule Targeting Meat and Poultry Producers
Kansas counties, Attorney General, federal delegation, and national partners secure victory for agriculture and food security
Garden City, KS — The Kansas Natural Resource Coalition (KNRC), representing 34 county commissions across Kansas, applauds the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) September 3 withdrawal of its proposed Clean Water Act Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Meat and Poultry Products Point Source Category.
Why the Rule Threatened Agriculture and Food Security
The EPA’s proposal attempted to expand federal regulation over indirect discharge facilities—an overreach beyond the Agency’s statutory authority under the Clean Water Act. Had it been adopted, the rule would have caused widespread economic harm:
1. Unrealistic costs. Required water filtration upgrades would have forced many facilities to close. Estimates projected $300,000–$400,000 in upfront costs and $100,000 annually in maintenance—well beyond the reach of most processors.
2. Lost capacity. Out of 3,708 additional facilities that EPA sought to regulate, at least 50 small and 16 large plants were expected to shut down. That alone would have eliminated a minimum of 910 million pounds of U.S. protein annually.
3. Ripple effects on producers and consumers. Farmers and ranchers would have lost access to local processors, leaving them no choice but to downsize or liquidate herds. Supply chain pressures would have worsened, driving already record-high meat prices even higher.
4. Unconstitutional overreach. The Clean Water Act, reinforced by Sackett v. EPA, explicitly preserves states’ authority over land and water use. EPA’s attempt to broaden jurisdiction ignored both statutory and constitutional limits.
Coordinated Action Stopped the Rule
KNRC submitted a 20-page legal and technical analysis opposing the rule, partnered with the Kansas Attorney General’s Office, and coordinated with Kansas legislators in Washington, D.C. Congressman Ron Estes responded by introducing the Beef Act, highlighting the importance of protecting producers and consumers from burdensome federal overreach. American Stewards of Liberty (ASL) played a vital role as well, raising national awareness and ensuring decision-makers fully grasped the threat to agriculture and rural communities.
A Victory for Kansas and America
In withdrawing the rule, EPA cited concerns over food supply stability, inflation, and broader national priorities. This outcome underscores the impact of Kansas-led advocacy, combined with national partners, in safeguarding American agriculture. “This is a major victory for Kansas counties, livestock producers, and American consumers,” said Comm. Bob Rein, KNRC President. “The EPA’s withdrawal affirms what we argued from the start: this rule was unconstitutional, economically damaging, and a direct threat to America’s food security. By standing together—counties, the Attorney General’s office, our congressional delegation, and American Stewards of Liberty—we protected agriculture and preserved the authority of states to govern their own land and water.”
Next Steps
KNRC remains committed to ensuring that federal agencies engage in lawful coordination with local governments before advancing rules that impact land use and natural resources. The Kansas Natural Resource Coalition (KNRC) is a coalition of counties who maintain collective and participatory involvement in administrative government on behalf of its citizenry. The Coalition serves as a conduit between local, state and federal governments to promote balanced, necessary and effective administrative policymaking through the mechanism of government-to-government coordination. Our mission is to monitor, analyze, understand, communicate, and participate in those initiatives that materially affect the natural or human systems governed by individual member counties.
