In mid-January, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee passed S. 659, the Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act of 2015. During the mark-up, Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID), Deb Fischer (R-NE), and Tom Carper (D-DE) offered an amendment to clarify that Clean Water Act permits are not needed for certain pesticide applications. The amendment was adopted by a 12-8 vote. The bill later passed by the committee by the same margin.
During the debate, amendment sponsors explained that the permits are duplicative and unnecessary because pesticide registration and use are thoroughly regulated by EPA under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). As of now, the full Senate is not scheduled to take action on the bill.
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