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NEWS BRIEFS

April 7, 2011 CropLifeAmerica:  Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed H.R. 872 on a bipartisan vote of 292-130. Along with the GOP leadership, 57 Democrats joined in supporting H.R. 872 which would clarify that National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for FIFRA-approved pesticide applications would not be required. This measure now moves to the Senate where industry and allies have already begun their efforts to move similar legislation that would ultimately be sent to the President for his signature.

Before we consider next steps in the Senate, let's make sure that we take a few moments and appreciate exactly what occurred last week in the U.S. House of Representatives. H.R. 872, the "Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2011," was passed on the House "suspension calendar," which is reserved for "non-controversial" measures, i.e., legislation that enjoys broad bipartisan support. Rarely does legislation that amends FIFRA and the Clean Water Act find itself on the suspension calendar! The success of the House effort was due in large part to the coalition that was built among CLA member companies and stakeholders, including producer groups and other affected parties like applicators and state regulators. Grassroots efforts in the states also played a critical part in ensuring this House victory - as Members of Congress were hearing from constituents, as well as from those of us inside the beltway. A special thank you to both Rebeckah Adcock and Jeff Case for their leadership on behalf of CLA, our industry, and the agriculture sector.

Now that the easy part is over there remains a great deal of work to be done before legislation correcting the Sixth Circuit ruling reaches the President's desk. Nevertheless, the momentum generated by the House passage of H.R. 872 is an important step. Earlier this week, Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member, Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) was joined by other GOP senators in introducing S. 718, a bill to amend FIFRA with respect to our NPDES issue. S. 718 is similar to legislation that was introduced in the Senate in the previous Congress by Senators Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Saxby Chambliss (R-GA). S. 718 is intended to begin the debate in the Senate, and along with members of the Pesticide Policy Coalition (PPC), we will continue to lead the advocacy and outreach in the U.S. Senate regarding this important issue.

The recent extension of the court's stay until October 31st misses the point but nevertheless grants necessary additional time so that springtime applications won't be in jeopardy of violating the Clean Water Act. The issue is not whether or not the EPA can develop and implement a NPDES permit for certain pesticide applications, but that NPDES permits should not be required; this is where the Sixth Circuit court erred. The court's imposition of NPDES permits on FIFRA approved pesticide applications amounts to duplicative and unnecessary regulation with no measurable environmental benefit and at a time when state and federal budgets are already broke. CropLife America supports thoughtful regulation that protects human health and the environment, such as is codified in FIFRA. The January 2009 Sixth Circuit ruling does not provide for additional environmental protections and instead only places a burden on users and applicators, as well as state and federal regulators. CropLife America, along with other members of the PPC, will continue to press this case in the Senate and build upon last week's significant victory in the U.S. House of Representatives. A great deal of work remains before this issue is ultimately resolved, but we currently have the momentum on our side. For additional information, please contact Beau Greenwood bgreenwood@croplifeamerica.org. 

In the fall of 2009, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) initiated an unprecedented re-review of atrazine, a critically important pesticide.  At the end of this process, EPA will decide whether to revise its current risk assessment of the pesticide and whether new restrictions are necessary better to protect public health.

Atrazine is one of the most important herbicides in soil-saving growing practices such as no-till and conservation tillage. Farmers use atrazine to control weeds on about two-thirds of this country’s corn and sorghum acreage.  Atrazine has been used safely and effectively for more than 50 years.  Banning the use of atrazine could cost between 21,000 and 48,000 jobs from corn production losses alone, according to University of Chicago economist Don L. Coursey

The Triazine Network, representing organizations and individuals who produce commodities and crops with the help of atrazine and simazine, strives to keep the beneficial triazine herbicides available in the United States. Many commodity and general farm organizations rely on the network to keep them informed about regulatory processes related to the triazine herbicides. The network also provides information on the economic and environmental benefits of these important crop chemicals to regulators, lawmakers and the media. 

Within the last few days the Triazine Network launched a campaign to encourage producers and individuals who have an interest in supporting the continued use of Atrazine, to send an e-mail to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson.  It is often stated by environmental extremist organizations and of even more concern that EPA believes that Atrazine is not really needed or is important to farmers. They repeatedly state that there are plenty of replacements for Atrazine and farmers simply don’t need the product.  

We would encourage you to go to http://agsense.org/  website and submit
an e-mail. Please note the “Take Action” section located on the right side of the opening page on Agsense.org.