WASHINGTON — US Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) led a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ask the agency to withdraw its proposed rule for wastewater discharged by meat and poultry processors.

The letter, supported by nine other Republican senators and 17 Republican representatives, was directed to EPA Administrator Michael Regan on March 4.

The members of Congress wrote that EPA’s proposed rule does not align with federal initiatives to expand small- and medium-sized independent processing facilities. The rule would expose hundreds of operators to a new regulatory regime with significant costs, the letter said.

“Given the technical complexity and high costs of wastewater treatment alterations, coupled with the massive expansion of the number of regulated facilities, a 60-day comment period demonstrates EPA is not interested in seeking meaningful input from the regulated industry,” they wrote.

The members of Congress urged EPA to withdraw the rule and “fulfill its duty to earnestly work with the regulated community in any future rulemaking, ensuring that any actions do not compromise our food system.”

The letter received support from stakeholders such as the American Association of Meat Processors (AAMP), North American Renderers Association (NARA) and North American Meat Institute.