To: Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

From: Coos/Curry County Farm Bureau

RE: CCFB Position on DEQ Toxics Reduction Rulemaking Package

Date: March 13, 2011

Coos/Curry County Farm Bureau strongly opposes any attempt by DEQ to regulate and enforce water quality standards and violations on Oregon agriculture lands and against Oregon agriculture producers. Any regulation and enforcement of farming practices in Oregon should come directly from Oregon Dept. of Agriculture and no other agency.

Coos/Curry County Farm Bureau is comprised of many multi-generational farming/ranching families that are focused on maintaining our way of life and providing a living for our families. We believe area 1010 plans and rules have significantly improved water quality in Oregon as it relates to pollution from non-point agricultural sources. We are very concerned the proposed Human Health Toxic Pollutants rules will adversely affect production agriculture in Oregon. Any attempt by DEQ to directly regulate and enforce water quality standards and violations on Oregon agricultural lands will not be tolerated.

Oregon statute requires landowners to conduct agriculture activities in compliance with water quality standards adopted by the EQC; however these laws do not provide direct enforcement authority over agriculture landowners to either the EQC or DEQ. We will not stand by and witness a witch-hunt against Oregon agriculture families who are earning a meager living. If DEQ continues to move forward with the proposed rulemaking language they will effectively regulate farms and ranches out of business in Oregon. We will NOT let DEQ take our heritage and property rights from our hands. It is critical that any water quality regulation of farming practices remain under the direction and enforcement of ODA.

Sincerely,

Kevin Westfall

President, Coos/Curry County Farm Bureau