Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Congress may overturn court decision requiring second permit for pesticide spraying over water

UPDATE, July 8: "Facing what appears to be stiff opposition from Senate Democrats as a deadline closes in, House Republicans are trying a new legislative tactic" to pass the measure, Jacobs reports. "They've tacked it on to an appropriations bill." (Read more, subscription required)

Congress is nearing final passage of a bill that would keep pesticide applicators from having to apply for a second permit when spraying over public waters, Jeremy Jacobs of Environment and Energy Daily reports.

On a voice vote, the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee approved a bill to overturn a 2009 federal appeals-court ruling that required a secondary permit for spraying over water. The Senate is moving a House bill instead of one sponsored by Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., because the Environmental Protection Agency is "facing an Oct. 31 deadline for establishing the new permits," Jacobs writes.

The committee's approval upset environmentalists. "Congress should be making sure that our water is safe for drinking, swimming and fishing, not giving pesticide users carte blanche to continue poisoning the water we all depend on," Jason Rylander, a senior attorney for Defenders of Wildlife, said in a statement. (Read more, subscription required)

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