National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits not required when applying pesticides

The National Corn Growers Association has commended the U.S. House of Representatives' passage of the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2011 (H.R. 872), which states that National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits are not required when applying pesticides according to their Environmental Protection Agency-approved label.
For most of the past four decades, water quality concerns from pesticide applications were addressed within the registration process under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, rather than a Clean Water Act permitting program. H.R. 872 amends both the Clean Water Act and FIFRA in order to restore the previous regulatory framework.
“NCGA greatly appreciates the support of Republicans and Democrats in the House to pass this legislation in less than a month since its introduction,” said NCGA President Bart Schott. “We strongly endorse this legislation and are pleased to see Congress understands how significantly farmers could be impacted by burdensome NPDES permits for pesticides.”
The bill must now be approved by the Senate