Complete Story
06/22/2011
OSA Supports the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act
Contact:
Jennifer Coleman
Ohio Soybean Association
614.476.3100
jcoleman@soyohio.org
NEWS RELEASE
June 22, 2011
The Ohio Soybean Association Supports the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act
WORTHINGTON, Ohio – The Ohio Soybean Association (OSA) applauded the recent passage of the bipartisan House Resolution (H.R.) 872, the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act, by the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee. The next step is a vote by the full Senate. OSA encourages farmers and all stakeholders to contact their senators and express their support for this important legislation that will prevent duplicative permit requirements.
OSA released the following statement:
“The Ohio Soybean Association thanks Rep. Bob Gibbs (R-Ohio), Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio) for their leadership in moving H.R. 872 through the legislative process.
Pesticide applications are already highly regulated under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). However, due to a court order in the case National Cotton Council v. EPA (6th Cir. 2009) pesticide users, including farmers, forest managers, city municipalities and water districts, among others, would have to obtain a separate permit through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).
The order went into effect on April 9, 2011 and states that pesticide applications not covered by the NPDES are subject to a fine of up to $37,500 per day per violation. H.R. 872 will clarify Congressional intent and simply eliminate this duplicative requirement for pesticides already registered with FIFRA. This will prevent and unnecessary regulatory burden on Ohio’s 25,000 soybean farmers.”
Rep. Gibbs, Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment released the following statement.
“H.R. 872 is bipartisan effort to remove duplicative and costly red tape requirements that provide no help or environmental benefits. Failure to pass this legislation would prove to be a huge barrier to job creation, as well as a disastrous, unnecessary expansion of government.”
The Ohio Soybean Association is governed by a volunteer farmer board dedicated to education and promotion, as well as to uniting producer interest through support of legislative activities beneficial to the Ohio soybean industry.
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