EPA Floats Scaled Back Spray Permit As House Seeks To Quash Effort

摘要

EPA has released its draft final Clean Water Act (CWA) general permit for pesticide applications on or near U.S. waters April 1, the day after the House voted overwhelmingly to pass a bill aimed at blocking the permit - though in a major concession to critics, the agency has significantly softened its application. The agency said in a statement that it was releasing its draft final National Pollution Discharge Elimination System, (NPDES) permit ahead of final publication in the Federal Register in order for states and permittees to have as much time as possible to understand the permit's requirements before its implementation Oct. 31. Related document is available on InsideEPA.com. Seepage 2 for details. "In its ongoing efforts to be transparent and responsive to stakeholders, EPA is providing a pre-publication version of its draft final pesticide general permit for discharges of pesticide applications to U.S. waters," EPA said in a statement. "It is intended to help states in developing their own permits and for the regulated community to become familiar with the permit's requirements before it becomes effective."