Bill Would Eliminate Some EPA Pesticide Regs

One bipartisan group of Senators cosponsored a bill to help reduce regulations on farmers.

U.S. Senators Kay Hagan (D-NC) and Mike Crapo (R-ID) introduced legislation Sept. 20 that would eliminate a costly and redundant EPA regulation on pesticides.  A bipartisan group of Senators cosponsored the Restoring Effective Environmental Protection (REEP) Act, including:  SenatorsMcCaskill (D-MO), Barrasso (R-WY), Carper (D-DE), Coons (D-DE), Risch (R-ID), Landrieu (D-LA), Vitter (R-LA), Pryor (D-AR), and Conrad (D-ND).

Western Growers supports the effort, with CEO and President Tom Nassif calling the bill “a practical, bipartisan example of eliminating government regulations that needlessly increase farm business costs.”

Nassif said the bill will especially help farmers in California and Arizona who grow most of the nation’s fresh produce.

“We look forward to the Senate’s approval of this common-sense approach to government regulations,” Nassif said.

The following is courtesy of the group:

"This issue is not about whether pesticides should be regulated," said Hagan.  "The REEP Act is about eliminating a redundant regulation that provides little or no environmental or public health benefits.  I am proud of the bipartisan support this bill has received, and I will continue working with my colleagues to get this bill signed into law.  North Carolina's farmers should not be burdened with this unnecessary and costly regulation."

Senator Mike Crapo: “The EPA’s own cost analysis has estimated the new permitting requirements will cost more than $50 million a year, as well as at least one million hours to process. This cost on rural America is unprecedented, as virtually every stream and creek will be subject to regulation.  Our rural communities are under a substantial amount of financial and regulatory pressure and are looking to Congress formuch-needed relief.”

Senator Tom Carper: “This bill takes a common-sense approach to reforming the burdensome and duplicative pesticide permitting process for Delaware’s farmers. Ensuring there is one regulatory system – not two – will enable us to better protect our health without wasting precious taxpayer dollars.  Going forward, I remain committed to working with my fellow Senators to advance this important legislation and supporting Delaware’s – and our nation’s – farmers.”

To read the entire release, including background on the EPA and pesticide applications, click here.

For more information, contact WG’s Dennis Nuxoll.