Mr. David M. Walker
Comptroller General of the United States
441 G Street, NW
Washington, DC 20548
Dear Mr. Walker:
As you may be aware, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed revisions to the “Water Quality Planning and Management Regulations” (40 CFR Part 130), regarding Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs). The proposed revisions were published in the Federal Register on August 23, 1999. We are writing to request your assistance in analyzing the cost of these proposed changes on the nation’s agricultural and silvicultural industries as well as on the federal, state and local agencies involved in conservation and water quality activities.
We are concerned that the Environmental Protection Agency has vastly understated the true cost of these proposed changes and has not even attempted to undertake a legitimate analysis in concert with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). There are now several congressional requests pending at the USDA for the impacted agencies, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Forest Service, to undertake a comprehensive review of the potential costs and prepare a report for the Secretary of Agriculture.
We are hopeful that the USDA will undertake this effort with adequate resources and resolve to send to Congress an accurate analysis of the true impact of this proposal. With the potential for a tremendous impact on rural America and the agencies that serve it, we believe that an impartial entity such as the General Accounting Office should be involved in reviewing this issue.
We appreciate your assistance in this matter
and look forward to working with you.
Sincerely,
(signatures of)
Larry Combest, Chairman
Charlie Stenholm, Ranking Member