EPA fine threats levied against small farmers, ranchers, and typical Americans seeking to build a pond in their own backyard have prompted a renewed debate over Agenda 21. A recent Huffington Post report referred to those concerned about the United Nations biodiversity program as conspiracy theorists, but the evolving eminent domain seizures, public land restrictions, and Clean Water Act legal battles have pushed the Agenda 21 matter back into the national spotlight.
The EPA is threatening to fine a Wyoming couple $75,000 for building a pond on their own property. Andy and Katie Johnson designed the pond as a watering hole for their cattle. The Environmental Protection Agency claims the pond violated Clean Water Act dictates.
Katie and Andy Johnson thought that they had filed all the paperwork necessary to garner the permissions now required to build or dig on your own land in the United States. The small Six Mile Creek runs through the Fort Bridger area property. The Wyoming State Engineer’s Office issued the Johnson’s a permit in early April which said, “All of the legal requirements of the State Engineer’s Office, that were your responsibility, have been satisfied for the Johnson Stock Reservoir.”
Like most reasonable folks, the Wyoming couple felt with a permit in hand, they were free to move along with their project and create the watering hole for their cattle. However, the EPA apparently saw the matter differently. The federal agency sent Katie and Andy Johnson a notice informing them they had violated the Clean Water Act, a misdeed which carried thousands of dollars in penalties and fines.
Andy Johnson had this to say about his battle with the EPA:
“I believe that the EPA does need to regulate industry and the bigger projects. But my little pristine stock pond, I believe, is a waste of our taxpayer money for them to come after me. It’s a waste of my time, it’s a waste of my money and we’re going to fight it.”
The EPA notice to the Wyoming couple claimed that during the building of the pond the Johnson’s had “discharged of pollutants [i.e. dredged or fill material] into the waters of the United States.” They were also cited for not getting a permit to build a dam and neglecting to get another permit from the Army Corps of Engineers.
The Agenda 21 United Nations program is a voluntary, non-binding plan which is allegedly focused solely on sustainable development. Adopted by 178 countries in 1992, the plan is based upon a program to abolish poverty and protect “fragile environments” by “properly” managing cities. Some charge the program wants to push all citizens into cities.
America is a “signatory” country to Agenda 21. Since the plan is a non-binding statement and not a treaty, a vote on the initiative was not necessary. In the United States, more than 500 large and moderate-sized cities are members of an international sustainability organization that reportedly supports the implementation of Agenda 21.
Andy Johnson told Fox News that there has been no pollution generated due to the building of the pond. He called the EPA’s stance that the Clean Water Act has been violated nothing more than an assumption. “There’s been no soil samples done, there’s been no water samples done,” he added. The Wyoming couple paid to have samples taken from their pond. The test results reportedly revealed that the water in the pond was cleaner than the water entering into it.
The couple has referred to the cattle pond as a “little irrigation canal.” Andy and Katie said that bald eagles, moose, blue herons, ducks, and geese all now frequent the watering hole. There was reportedly no such animal activity before.
The EPA contends that since Six Mile Creek runs into Black Forks River, which runs into Green River, the pond impacts a “navigable, interstate waterway in the United States.” Andy maintains that there is no connection to the river from his pond because Six Mile Creek has long been diverted about 300 yards away from his property due to a man-made irrigation canal.
The Wyoming couple is planning to fight the EPA and have received thousands of supportive phone calls from landowners around the nation. Some people feel the EPA is engaging in strong-arm tactics reminiscent of the BLM controversies in Nevada, Texas, Utah, and most recently New Mexico. Other supporters of the Johnson’s feel that the Clean Water Act dispute could be part of an Agenda 21 initiative.
A group known as the Post Sustainability Institute recently filed a lawsuit to stop a project, Plan Bay Area, which is a San Francisco-area long-range transportation and land-use/housing strategy that has a finish target of 2040. According to the Plan Bay Area website, the goal is to “accommodate future population growth and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks.” That is done by building neighborhoods that are “within walking distance of frequent transit service” and that offer “a wide variety of housing options” and feature grocery stores, community centers, and restaurants.”
“Maintaining our region’s high quality of life will depend on making wise decisions about transportation, housing and land use,” said Orinda Mayor Amy Rein Worth.
Agenda 21 was recently the topic of The Blaze TV’’s For The Record. The Republican Party opposed Agenda 21 in its 2012 platform, stating, “We strongly reject the U.N. Agenda 21 as erosive of American sovereignty.” Additionally, the Alabama legislature passed a bill banning participation in Agenda 21. It was signed by the governor.
The impact Agenda 21 could have on the very foundation of America is immense, yet the bulk of society knows little to nothing about the United Nations plan. One survey by the American Planning Association showed that 85 percent of Americans said they didn’t know enough information about Agenda 21 to form an opinion.
What do you think about the Agenda 21 issue and the Clean Water Act battle?
