EPA ADVISORY COMMITTEE EXAMINES NPDES PERMITS FOR PESTICIDES
News Date October 20, 2009
Members of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee (PPDC) met last week to discuss EPA’s implementation of the Sixth Circuit’s decision that will require Clean Water Act permits for pesticide applications in, over, or near water. The PPDC, composed of representatives from industry, environmental organizations, and state pesticide officials, examined EPA’s early approach to issuing the permits. Members of the PPDC keyed in on the impact the process will have on already strained resources at EPA as well as state permitting agencies. Also, a number of PPDC members asked for clarification from EPA on how it will interpret the meaning of “near” in the court’s decision, as well as how the agency intends to incorporate and define “integrated pest management” as an element of Best Available Technology under the Clean Water Act. Additional information is available on NASDA’s NPDES webpage. (Contact: Nathan Bowen)