Senate Hold Placed on Aquatic Pesticides Bill
Kristin Goree
ACWA
07/01/2011
The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee passed HR 872, exempting pesticide users who spray over water from obtaining a Clean Water Act permit, on June 21. The Committee rapidly approved the legislation by voice vote in a business meeting held just off the Senate floor.
The bill undoes a 2009 court ruling requiring EPA to begin issuing clean water act permits by October 31st. Many water districts are concerned that without this legislation products used for removing algae from canals will no longer be available. Committee Ranking Member Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) said, “This bill will eliminate a double layer of red tape that ultimately costs producers and consumers, and I stand ready to protect public health and reduce duplicative regulations by moving this bill to the Senate floor.”
However, after the vote, holds were immediately placed on the bill by several Democratic members of the Environment and Public Works Committee including Committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif). When asked about the parliamentary maneuvering, Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) indicated that she is addressing concerns raised by Senator Boxer and others. Stabenow emphasized that Boxer's concerns about the bill will be worked out before it is brought to the Senate floor.
