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EPA Trying to Tax Livestock Producers for Greenhouse Gas
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<blockquote data-quote="Brandonm22" data-source="post: 602200" data-attributes="member: 7645"><p>I got an email from the Alabama Cattleman's Assn recently disputing the suggestion that this is even in the works. This "COULD" be a hoax. More likely it is a trial balloon somebody put out to see what (if any) reaction it would receive.</p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.bamabeef.org/Chicken%20Little%20and%20the%20Cow%20Tax.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.bamabeef.org/Chicken%20Littl ... %20Tax.pdf</a></p><p></p><p>"For Immediate Release December 1, 2008</p><p>Contact: Dr. Billy Powell, ACA Executive Vice President (334) 265-1867</p><p>Chicken Little and the "Cow Tax"</p><p>Following a week's worth of speculation and a media frenzy on a</p><p>proposed "cow tax" in the form of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)</p><p>sanctions, the Alabama Cattlemen's Association is urging cattlemen in Alabama</p><p>to address the issue with calm after hearing all the facts.</p><p>The issue of a proposed "cow tax" seems to have originated in a press</p><p>release dated November 20th from the American Farm Bureau Federation</p><p>(AFBF). In a non-sourced citation from USDA, AFBF Executive Director of Public</p><p>Policy Mark Maslyn claims that fees proposed by EPA on farmers could total</p><p>$87.50 per beef cow. Following an in depth search, this seems to be the only</p><p>record of that figure. Nowhere in EPA's official submittal to the Federal Register</p><p>was this figure found.</p><p>In that advanced notice for proposed rulemaking (ANPR) which suggests</p><p>proposing to regulate greenhouse gases (GHGs) under the Clean Air Act, EPA</p><p>Administrator Stephen Johnson requested public comment and input before any</p><p>decisions or policy recommendations are made. "None of the views or</p><p>alternatives raised in this notice represents Agency decisions or policy</p><p>recommendations. It is premature to do so," stated Johnson.</p><p>Following Administrator Johnson's request, USDA Ag Secretary Edward</p><p>T. Schafer submitted comments harshly criticizing the proposal and citing its</p><p>potential for negative impact on the nation's agriculture industry. Speaking of</p><p>America's small family farms, Schafer stated, "These operations simply could not</p><p>bear the regulatory compliance costs that would be invoked."</p><p>Even then, no official mention of a "cow tax" was mentioned. So, what</p><p>can be gathered from these official records?</p><p>"Cattle producers should stop for a minute and consider the facts in this</p><p>case. We've seen a lot of undue hysteria among our producers because of a</p><p>simple news release looking to sensationalize a story. The Alabama Cattlemen's</p><p>Association (ACA) as well as the National Cattlemen's Beef Association have</p><p>both commented to EPA that we oppose regulating GHGs under the Clean Air</p><p>Act. However, we're not willing to spread a rumor that will cause undue public</p><p>outcry. Our stance has always been to base our policies on science and</p><p>documented facts; neither of which seems to be the basis for this scare over a</p><p>"cow tax". Further, we think it counts as extremely irresponsible and reckless</p><p>behavior among several industry organizations to cause undue duress and alarm</p><p>among cattlemen in this state by propagating this rumor", says ACA Executive</p><p>Vice President Dr. Billy Powell.</p><p>###"</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Brandonm22, post: 602200, member: 7645"] I got an email from the Alabama Cattleman's Assn recently disputing the suggestion that this is even in the works. This "COULD" be a hoax. More likely it is a trial balloon somebody put out to see what (if any) reaction it would receive. [url=http://www.bamabeef.org/Chicken%20Little%20and%20the%20Cow%20Tax.pdf]http://www.bamabeef.org/Chicken%20Littl ... %20Tax.pdf[/url] "For Immediate Release December 1, 2008 Contact: Dr. Billy Powell, ACA Executive Vice President (334) 265-1867 Chicken Little and the “Cow Tax” Following a week’s worth of speculation and a media frenzy on a proposed “cow tax” in the form of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sanctions, the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association is urging cattlemen in Alabama to address the issue with calm after hearing all the facts. The issue of a proposed “cow tax” seems to have originated in a press release dated November 20th from the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF). In a non-sourced citation from USDA, AFBF Executive Director of Public Policy Mark Maslyn claims that fees proposed by EPA on farmers could total $87.50 per beef cow. Following an in depth search, this seems to be the only record of that figure. Nowhere in EPA’s official submittal to the Federal Register was this figure found. In that advanced notice for proposed rulemaking (ANPR) which suggests proposing to regulate greenhouse gases (GHGs) under the Clean Air Act, EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson requested public comment and input before any decisions or policy recommendations are made. “None of the views or alternatives raised in this notice represents Agency decisions or policy recommendations. It is premature to do so,” stated Johnson. Following Administrator Johnson’s request, USDA Ag Secretary Edward T. Schafer submitted comments harshly criticizing the proposal and citing its potential for negative impact on the nation’s agriculture industry. Speaking of America’s small family farms, Schafer stated, “These operations simply could not bear the regulatory compliance costs that would be invoked.” Even then, no official mention of a “cow tax” was mentioned. So, what can be gathered from these official records? “Cattle producers should stop for a minute and consider the facts in this case. We’ve seen a lot of undue hysteria among our producers because of a simple news release looking to sensationalize a story. The Alabama Cattlemen's Association (ACA) as well as the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association have both commented to EPA that we oppose regulating GHGs under the Clean Air Act. However, we’re not willing to spread a rumor that will cause undue public outcry. Our stance has always been to base our policies on science and documented facts; neither of which seems to be the basis for this scare over a “cow tax”. Further, we think it counts as extremely irresponsible and reckless behavior among several industry organizations to cause undue duress and alarm among cattlemen in this state by propagating this rumor”, says ACA Executive Vice President Dr. Billy Powell. ###" [/QUOTE]
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