ENVIRONMENT BRIEFS

News Date June 16, 2009

NPDES CASE. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals granted NASDA's motion to file a letter as amicus curiae in The National Cotton Council v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. NASDA has joined with a broad coalition of agricultural organizations in requesting a rehearing of the case that, if allowed to stand, would require National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for any pesticide applications to or near waterbodies. A copy of NASDA's letter to the court is available at http://www.nasda.org/cms/7196/20728/20741/21726.aspx. (Contact: Nathan Bowen)

CLEAN WATER ACT EXPANSION. On June 18 the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will mark up the Clean Water Restoration Act (S. 787). The legislation would expand federal jurisdiction of water under the Clean Water Act to include intrastate waters, isolated ponds, and ephemeral streams, among others. A broad group of agricultural producer groups continues to express serious concerns over the legislation. (Contact: Nathan Bowen)

HEARING EXPLORES WATER SUPPLY & WILDLIFE. The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife, chaired by Del. Madeleine Z. Bordallo (D-GU), last week heard recommendations for the growing problem of chemical and drug runoff in water supplies. These runoffs from medications negatively affect fish and wildlife in the U.S. food supply. Unused pharmaceuticals that are flushed down the drain pose a threat to oceanic and freshwater wildlife because the Endocrine Disrupting Compounds (EDCs) affect fish and wildlife in the embryonic stage and carry into adult life."We should care about this issue," Bordallo said, "because it enters our food supply through the food chain." Two panels of witnesses discussed the implications of improper disposal of medications, the nationally unaware status of the problem, and possible solutions to reduce medicine waste. (Contact: Kasey Miller or Nathan Bowen)