WASHINGTON – Two US Senators proposed legislation last week that would stop the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from issuing permits intended to reduce livestock emissions.

Sen. John Thune (R-SD) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) introduced the Livestock Emissions Regulatory Protection Act which would amend the Clean Air Act to prohibit the EPA from issuing permits for any carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, water vapor or methane emissions resulting from biological processes associated with livestock production. 

“Livestock producers are working to improve efficiency and reduce emissions from their operations,” Thune said. “They should not be subject to onerous regulations and costly permit fees for their animals’ emissions, which could ultimately lead to higher food costs for consumers. I’m grateful for Senator Sinema’s partnership on the Livestock Regulatory Protection Act, which would provide producers long-term certainty on this issue.”

Supporters of the Livestock Regulatory Protection Act include the American Farm Bureau Federation, Ducks Unlimited, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, US Cattlemen’s Association, American Sheep Industry Association, National Bison Association and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative.

“Cutting unnecessary regulations frees Arizona cattlemen from costly permit fees and keeps prices affordable for Arizona families,” Sinema said.

Thune added that the Livestock Regulatory Protection Act would provide long-term certainty for producers that their livestock’s biological emissions will not be subject to costly regulation. 

The bill was previously introduced in 2009 by Thune and current Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).