H.R.3909 - Farmers Undertake Environmental Land Stewardship Act; FUELS Act (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R. 3909, also known as the Farmers Undertake Environmental Land Stewardship Act or FUELS Act, proposes amendments to Section 1049 of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014. The bill focuses on adjusting the applicability of the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule for farms. Specifically, it seeks to modify the threshold amounts related to aboveground storage capacity that trigger SPCC rule requirements.
Expected Effects
The FUELS Act, if enacted, would change the criteria for farms to be subject to the SPCC rule. By raising the threshold for aggregate aboveground storage capacity, it would exempt some farms from compliance. This could reduce the regulatory burden on smaller farms, while potentially increasing the risk of spills from farms exceeding the previous limits but falling under the new, higher limits.
Potential Benefits
- Reduced Regulatory Burden: Some farms would be exempt from SPCC rule compliance, reducing administrative costs.
- Increased Flexibility: Farmers would have more flexibility in managing their operations without strict regulatory oversight.
- Potential Cost Savings: Farms could save money by not having to implement and maintain SPCC plans.
- Focus on Larger Operations: Resources could be focused on larger farms with potentially greater environmental impact.
- Streamlined Compliance: Simplifies compliance for farms with storage capacity between the old and new thresholds.
Potential Disadvantages
- Increased Spill Risk: Higher storage thresholds could lead to increased risk of spills from farms that are no longer subject to the SPCC rule.
- Environmental Damage: Potential spills could cause environmental damage to water resources and ecosystems.
- Inconsistent Protection: Environmental protection may become inconsistent across different farm sizes.
- Reduced Oversight: Decreased regulatory oversight could lead to less responsible environmental practices by some farms.
- Potential for Larger Spills: Farms with storage between the old and new thresholds may have larger spills due to lack of preventative measures.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the Commerce Clause (Article I, Section 8) as it regulates activities (farming and water resources) that can affect interstate commerce. There is no apparent conflict with the Bill of Rights. The bill's impact on environmental protection could be debated in relation to the General Welfare Clause of the Constitution's preamble, depending on whether the changes are viewed as promoting or hindering the general welfare through environmental stewardship.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).