Cattle producers are celebrating Congressional action that they contend will ease the burden of the Environmental Protection Agency's Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule on smaller operations.

The EPA rule is aimed at above-ground fuel storage but the cattle producers say it also includes some feed-storage containers, providing a burden on small operators who are required to have a spill-containment plan. The bi-partisan legislation clearing both the House and Senate exempts fuel tanks with a capacity of 1,000 gallons or less and all tanks that hold animal feed ingredients from the aggregate calculations.

“This commonsense legislation will protect the majority of the nation’s cattle producers from the burden and cost of developing a spill containment plan,” said Bob McCan, President of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.

McCan calls it a “major regulatory victory” for most cattlemen, who live miles from the nearest town and need to store fuel and feed on their property.