WASHINGTON — Freshmen Congressmen are more often seen than heard, but sometimes they have a chance to speak in the form of sponsoring legislation.
On March 31, House Resolution 872, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Bob Gibbs, passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of 292-130. The resolution came in response to a ruling by the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals that pesticide use requires a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit under the Clean Water Act, in addition to meeting the requirements already administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act.
“Congress acted decisively to remove a costly, lengthy and duplicative regulatory process that would prove to be a huge barrier to job creation,” Gibbs said. “Now, not only will we continue to have a safe environment, but also a better environment for economic growth.”
The EPA has administered Clean Water Act provisions for more than 30 years and has never required an NPDES permit for pesticides used in compliance with FIFRA regulations.
