U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe will join a group of Oklahoma farmers and ranchers in a southern Garfield County pasture Aug. 23 at 4:30 p.m. to discuss the Environmental Protection Agency’s attempt to redefine navigable waterways under the Clean Water Act.

The CWA gives the EPA authority to write rules governing the protection of navigable waters. The EPA wants to redefine the word navigable in an effort to regulate even a roadside ditch that could hold water for only a few hours.

This proposal would allow the EPA to regulate the following:

• Groundwater
• Ditches
• Culverts
• Pipes
• Desert washes
• Farm and stock ponds

If you are coming from Enid, the location for Sen. Inhofe’s discussion is approximately 3 miles south of the Southgate entrance to Vance Air Force Base on Highway 81, and then 1.25 miles east on W. Longhorn Trail, a dirt road.

If you are coming from the south, go north of Waukomis on Highway 81 approximately 2.5 miles to W. Longhorn Trail.

There will be signs directing you to the site. The pastureland for this event is currently managed by Gary Johnson, Garfield County Farm Bureau President.

Sen. Inhofe, along with the state’s farmers and ranchers, do not support the EPA’s attempt to redefine the term navigable.

This media event is part of the American Farm Bureau’s national “Stop the flood of regulations” campaign in progress across the country where similar events are being held this summer.

For more information, call Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s Public Policy staff members Marla Peek at (405) 523-2437, or Chris Kidd at (405) 523-2402.