Two billboards violate federal rules because the EPA funds the groups that put up the signs, according to an EPA official. The advertisements accuse farmers of polluting water. The Capitol Press reports a coalition of environmental groups put up the billboards to promote ‘What’s Upstream,’ a media campaign crafted by a public relations firm to link agriculture with water pollution. The groups used an EPA grant to fund the billboards but did not credit the agency’s financial support, a requirement to receive EPA grants. The Capitol Press inquired to the EPA regarding the billboards last week. An official with the federal agency replied saying the billboards look “like a violation,” adding the EPA believes the groups will bring the signs into compliance. The billboards claimed “unregulated agriculture is putting our waterways at risk.” Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts of Kansas released a statement on the matter, saying “the billboard is another example of EPA’s improper practice of encouraging the lobbying of legislators.” Roberts accused the EPA of having an agenda hostile to agriculture.
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