Arizona rancher says ‘dysfunctional’ rules hurt environment, ranchers
by Pat Poblete | Cronkite News
The president of the Arizona Farm Bureau told a House panel Thursday that regulations meant to help the environment are actually doing the opposite, in part by harming ranchers who are in the best position to help.
In testimony to a House Natural Resources subcommittee, Stefanie Smallhouse said that laws meant to protect and conserve wildlife, like the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act, have led to a “dysfunctional regulatory system” and spawned “frivolous lawsuits” that stymie conservation efforts.
“The NEPA process to approve necessary conservation projects has been slowed to the point of complete paralysis in many areas due to obstruction and threat of litigation by radical environmental groups,” said Smallhouse, who was testifying on behalf of the American Farm Bureau.
“NEPA is a necessary analysis, but it was not, it was not intended to end grazing in the West,” she said.
