Wichita Standard

Reps. Ron Estes and Eric Burlison have introduced the Banning EPA’s Encroachment of Facilities (BEEF) Act, which aims to protect small family-owned meat and poultry processors from new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. The act, also known as H.R.7079, would prohibit the EPA from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing a new proposed rule entitled "Clean Water Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Meat and Poultry Products Point source category."

According to Rep. Estes, the proposed regulations by the EPA would burden small operations in communities across the country with steep costs that large-scale meat-processing operations can already absorb and conduct. He stated, "Kansans have shared with me that this egregious burden by federal bureaucrats would shutter small operations in our communities due to the steep costs of implementing unnecessary, major phosphate and nitrogen testing."

Rep. Burlison echoed these concerns, emphasizing that the proposed regulation is not just an attack on family-run small businesses but also on rural communities. He stated, "These meat and poultry processors are the lifeblood of our communities and instead of supporting them, the Biden EPA is on the attack."

The EPA's proposed rule, titled the “Clean Water Act Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Meat and Poultry Products Point source category,” aims to strengthen regulations on discharges from meat and poultry facilities. It expands regulations to include phosphorus discharge along with new standards for oil, organic material, salt, ammonia, and nitrogen. However, critics argue that the rule prioritizes appeasing environmentalists at the expense of family-run facilities.

The Kansas Meat Processors Association expressed concern over the proposed changes, stating that they would be detrimental not only to the processing industry but also to other agricultural-related fields in the state. The association questioned the necessity of the proposed changes and asked for more scientific evidence to support them.

The American Association of Meat Processors (AAMP) also voiced support for the BEEF Act, stating that the proposed rule is greatly flawed. Chris Young, the Executive Director of AAMP, noted that the EPA rushed the proposed rule without thoroughly studying and understanding the industry as a whole. He called for the EPA to start over and collect data while working with the industry to develop cost-effective and sustainable solutions to wastewater issues.

Tom Eickman, the Owner of Eickman’s Processing Inc. and President of AAMP, emphasized the need for a better understanding of the industry as a whole. He stated, "A one-size-fits-all approach often does not work. The meat industry welcomes a discussion of revising the rules but would like more input than a long, complicated survey and limited site visits."

The Missouri Association of Meat Processors, representing nearly 140 small meat processors, expressed concerns that many of their members would be forced to discontinue operations if they were required to invest in expensive wastewater treatment equipment that may not even be necessary. The association highlighted that the EPA has not considered small processors in its proposal.

The BEEF Act aims to address these concerns and protect local meat and poultry processors from the burdensome regulations proposed by the EPA. By prohibiting the EPA from implementing the proposed rule, the act seeks to ensure that small family-owned businesses can continue to operate and provide safe, affordable food for their communities.