The EPA’s proposed Waters of the U.S. rule would affect more than just agriculture. Senator Roy Blunt of Missouri says local officials are concerned on how the rule may affected them as well.

The EPA claims the rule would not affect agriculture. Out of the 17,000 unique comments send to EPA during the comment period, 10 percent came from opposed members of the American Farm Bureau.

The EPA is currently evaluating the comments gathered during the comment period and taking them into consideration for the final rule Nearly a half million comments were submitted, including what EA calls “unique comments.”

Agriculture groups are concerned that the rule would require over watch and permits of common farming practices and regulations on intermittent water ways, such as ditches that only carry water during significant rainfall events.

Blunt spoke to Missouri Farm Bureau members Monday morning at the organizations 100th Annual Convention at Tan-Tar-A. Blunt said the incoming Congress could try to de-fund the rule if EPA moves forward with its current proposal.