Anonymous public comment

We provide secondary containment for the oil industry but also supply products for the Agricultural Industry. One of the biggest questions we have with the proposed extension is the fact the majority of all farmers and ranchers think it affects all of them. The majority of all farmers and ranchers think this extension gives them until May 2013, which it obviously doesn’t. Why are they under this impression? Is the current rule being enforced? We also know that there are millions of dollars out there in grants for our farmers to take advantage of and I think it’s pretty safe to say that they’re not. Why? Again, we feel that it’s due to the lack of information to the farmer. I’d like to know how many farmers have actually taken advantage of it. Do they even know about it? I think it’s pretty clear that over the last 7 times this rule has been extended, that informing the farmers has been the weakest link in the chain, and is obviously the most important. It would make more sense to focus on who the extension is actually affecting (new farms after aug. 2002). We still have millions of farmers that need to be in compliance right now and have no idea. We know there are other companies out there now that have the ability to handle the spill plans and the farmers secondary containment issues. These companies are ready and more than willing. With millions of farmers needing to purchase our products, from spill kits and secondary containment units to double wall tanks, how could this not have an effect on a company that supplies these products? Could this help produce new jobs? Yes. Are we ready for the demand of the Ag industry? Yes. If you do go through with the extension (May, 2013), this would obviously be a serious hit to the industry again for the 7th time. In years past, you may have not had the support you’ve been looking for, but you now have numerous companies ready and willing to meet the demands of the Agriculture industry.