Jul 23, 2024

Iowa Ag Secretary and A.G. discuss legal challenge to federal rules for wetland restoration

Posted Jul 23, 2024 2:53 PM

(Radio Iowa) - Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig says he's met with Iowa's attorney general to discuss legal challenges to some federal regulations relating to wetlands.

The lawsuit would follow the U-S Supreme Court's recent decision that sharply curtails the authority federal agencies have to interpret the laws they administer. Naig says it's been difficult to get permits for nitrate-reducting wetland restoration projects because of the way the Army Corps of Engineers interprets the Clean Water Act.

Naig says current federal rules require work in streams that are connected to the wetlands, and that adds significant costs.