CBD expands FOIA requests

The Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) issued more Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests related to the 2015 Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule. As previously reported in the Sept. 25 issue, CBD had submitted FOIA requests related to interactions between the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and now-Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt. The environmental litigation group is now expanding its FOIA requests to include 10 other agricultural industry groups: The American Farm Bureau Federation; American Meat Institute; National Chicken Council; National Fisheries Institute; National Milk Producers Association; National Pork Producers Council; National Turkey Federation; Poultry Federation; U.S. Poultry and Egg Council; and United Egg Producers. The group asserts that animal agriculture “is a leading source of water pollution because toxic runoff from improperly contained animal manure is often discharged into nearby waterways.”