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Pesticide permits on their way
The EPA regulation that will require applicators to obtain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit in order to apply pesticides on or near water went into effect Monday. Earlier this summer the US House voted to eliminate the regulation. The Senate leadership did not call for an up or down vote. Because there was no Congressional action the measure went into effect Monday.
House Ag committee Chairman Frank Lucas said because of the Senate’s lack of action there are no winners. He says farmers, ranchers and business owners will be burdened with additional costs and paperwork from this duplicative permit.
For the first 120 days that the permit is in effect, EPA says it will focus on providing compliance assistance and education of the permit requirements, rather than on enforcement actions.
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