Nebraska Democrat U.S. Senator Ben Nelson agrees with his Nebraska Republican colleague Senator Mike Johanns when it comes to the stopping the Environmental Protection Agency's aerial surveillance of agriculture operations.
"I'm supporting an amendment that Senator Johanns introduced the other day to end EPA's use of aerial surveillance flying over livestock operations."
Senator Johanns has added an amendment to the new farm bill that the EPA stops the practice. Senator Nelson says this is basically an invasion of privacy.
"There is no probable cause here. It is just snooping wasting taxpayer money in the process. Without probable cause it is really invading rancher's space. Nobody likes that."
Senator Nelson also expressed his frustration at the EPA for not answering questions about the flyovers and then arranging a so called "private meeting" Thursday.
"I'm frustrated with the agency's handling and their response. They said they are going to have a private meeting that will be open to the media so send your representative to that tomorrow. That is not an adequate solution."
Senator Nelson says searching private property for violations without any reason to believe a producer is doing anything wrong is just that... wrong. Senator Nelson is ready to work with his colleagues to get the EPA to start communicating.
The EPA says the flyovers are to check to make sure that livestock operators are following regulations regarding water pollution.
(Courtesy of The Nebraska Radio Network. All Rights Reserved)
