(Washington, D.C., January 29, 2020) – A new Clean Water Act (CWA) rule published January 23 gives much needed clarity to specialty pesticide applicators making important public health, safety and environmental applications, including those for vector control, vegetation management, and habitat preservation and restoration.
“The changes made by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and United States Army Corps of Engineers in the new Navigable Waters Protection rule bring the clarity needed to ensure essential pesticide applications protecting public health, safety, infrastructure and ecosystems continue in an environment of regulatory and business certainty,” said RISE President, Megan Provost.
“For the specialty pesticide industry, the new rule contains important refinements to the definitions of waters coming under federal jurisdiction and waters coming under state and local jurisdiction. Along with our national partners, we are encouraging everyone in our industry to become familiar with the rule and to understand the intersection of our pesticide statute, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, and CWA National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits. Our commitment to protecting people, places and our nation’s waters continues with this new rule.”
Since 2015, RISE, as part of the multi-stakeholder Waters Advocacy Coalition, has been working to bring much needed regulatory clarity to pesticide applications made to protect utility infrastructure, create fire breaks, ensure lines of site on highways and roadways, support effective mosquito and vector control, and care for turf and landscape on public and private property, among others.
“Finding the right balance between our pesticide statute, FIFRA, which regulates all aspects of pesticide use, including uses on or near water, and the CWA has been our objective and has now been achieved,” added Provost.
RISE is the national trade association representing manufacturers, formulators, distributors and other leaders engaged with the specialty pesticide and fertilizer industry.
Link to the Navigable Waters Protection Rule here: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2020-01/documents/navigable_waters_protection_rule_prepbulication.pdf
Contact: Karen Reardon, Vice President Public Affairs
Desk: 202-872-3893; Main: 202-872-3860
Email: kreardon@pestfacts.org