WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, with a bipartisan group of senators, introduced S.340, the Sensible Environmental Protection Act, to eliminate redundant federal permitting requirements for pesticide applications.

Introduced by Sens. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, and Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., S.340 amends the Clean Water Act and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to clarify Congressional intent regarding the regulation of the use of pesticides in or near navigable waters. The legislation requires U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to report to Congress on streamlining data collection and use regarding water quality due to the registration and use of pesticides. EPA will also provide recommendations on how FIFRA can better protect water quality and human health.

“This is the fifth consecutive session of Congress that I have joined in the effort to stop this duplicative and burdensome requirement on our farmers and ranchers. I’m hopeful that this is the last time,” said Chairman Roberts. “Our farmers and ranchers work too hard to be forced to comply with regulations that are redundant and provide absolutely zero environmental protection or benefits.”

Other cosponsors of the legislation include: Sens. John Barrasso, R-Wyo.; Roy Blunt, R-Mo.; John Boozman, R-Ark.; Joe Donnelly, D-Ind.; Mike Enzi, R-Wyo.; Joni Ernst, R-Iowa; Deb Fischer, R-Neb.; Jeff Flake, R-Ariz.; Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D.; Jim Inhofe, R-Okla.; Jerry Moran, R-Kan.; Jim Risch, R-Idaho; and John Thune, R-S.D.

Chairman Roberts continues to fight against EPA’s burdensome and duplicative pesticide permitting requirements. He has introduced similar legislation in the 111^th, 112^th, 113^th, and 114^th Congresses.

—U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

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