This week, the House will begin debating H.R. 2, more commonly known as the Farm Bill. The measure is an important opportunity for landscape professionals to gain greater certainty in regulatory decisions related to pesticide use. The House Bill contains language that:
- Recognizes the exclusive role of states in regulating pesticides to help ward off local pesticide bans;
- Improves coordination between the endangered species consultation and the pesticide registration process;
- Reauthorizes the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA 4) for 7 years to ensure that EPA has the resources to register new pesticide products; and
- Eliminates the duplicative National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting requirements for pesticides used in and near water.
Congress is already being heavily lobbied by environmental activist who oppose the proposed measure due to the regulatory reform provision’s that are in our profession’s best interests. We need to their misleading rhetoric with our own passion and real-world expertise! Please take time TODAY to send a message using our online alert form and help us educate Congress on why the need to support the pesticide reform provisions of the Farm Bill!
