U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt continued his state action tour in Colorado, marking the seventh state visit in three weeks. Many agriculture leaders met with Pruitt on August 3 at the Frasier Ranch in eastern Colorado. During the meeting, Pruitt talked about various agriculture issues, in particular the Waters of the U.S. rule.

Pruitt said the last administration “failed miserably” at creating regulations meant to provide certainty. The rule “was not about water quality and not about environmental outcomes, it was about expanding their power,” Pruitt said.

“There is now hope and optimism for farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses across the country. Two years ago, senior EPA officials with the previous Administration visited Frasier Ranch promising this same audience that agriculture would experience no adverse effects by the 2015 WOTUS rule,” said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. “Unfortunately, that couldn’t have been further from the truth. Today, I returned to the farm to ensure Coloradans regulatory certainty and return traditional oversight back to the states and prioritize keeping Colorado’s water clean.”

Repeal of the rule is underway and Pruitt said the hope is a replacement by the first quarter of next year. The visit was part of a larger “state action tour” throughout Colorado.