Agricultural News
Lucas' FIFRA Companion Bill Introduced in House
Wed, 11 Aug 2010 17:15:16 CDT
Reacting to a court ruling - and following in the footsteps of Senate Ag leaders Blanche Lincoln and Saxby Chambliss - members of the House Agriculture Committee have introduced H.R. 6087 written by Oklahoma 3rd District Congressman Frank Lucas. The bill states that the use of a pesticide consistent with its registration under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act should not be subject to a costly, redundant and unnecessary permit process under the Clean Water Act.
Since passage of the Act in 1972 - the Environmental Protection Agency has interpreted the act to exclude lawful pesticide applications regulated under FIFRA from National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits. But in January 2009 - the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the EPA did not have the authority to exempt application of pesticides.
Last year - Representative Frank Lucas of Oklahoma joined several of his colleagues and supported a petition to the Supreme Court to hear the case - but the petition was rejected. H.R. 6087 would make clear that producers who are in compliance with the requirements of FIFRA do not need to obtain Clean Water Act permits.
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