WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) today released the following statement about efforts to address the October 31^st deadline regarding the implementation of EPA’s costly and redundant pesticide permitting rule:

"The best way to eliminate uncertainty regarding pesticide applications is for the Senate to pass the bipartisan H.R. 872, which eliminates red tape, redundant permitting and burdensome costs,” Roberts said. "Attempts to use a moratorium to leverage a controversial and overly broad study that threatens agriculture production will only increase confusion facing our farmers, ranchers and state and local health agencies. It simply kicks the can down the road and creates controversy where there is existing bipartisan agreement. I cannot support this approach when a real solution, H.R. 872, is at hand and will solve the problem permanently."

This requirement, set to take effect November 1, 2011, is of particular concern for public health officials who are now restricted in their ability to control mosquitoes, and the spread of diseases like the West Nile virus. It is also a significant issue for agriculture.

Under this proposed draft, approximately 365,000 pesticide applicators will need permits to cover about 5.6 million applications per year.  EPA estimates the permit will cost states, local entities and pesticide applicators $50 million and require one million hours to implement per year. Under the Clean Water Act, unlawful discharges are subject to $37,500 per day in fines.  

In June 2011, Senate Agriculture Committee members passed H.R. 872, the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2011, out of committee where it now awaits debate and a vote on the Senate floor. H.R. 872 passed the House of Representatives earlier this year.

Sen. Roberts has been consistently outspoken against the Obama administration=s burdensome regulations. In February, Sen. Roberts introduced a bill called the ARegulatory Responsibility for our Economy Act, or S. 358, to strengthen and codify the president's Executive Order from January 18, 2011. It would ensure the president's order is carried out to review, modify, streamline, expand, or repeal those significant regulatory actions that are duplicative, unnecessary, burdensome, or would have significant economic impacts on Americans. The legislation has 46 cosponsors.

Sen. Roberts is ranking member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture Nutrition and Forestry.

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